A GODMANCHESTER man who was on a destroyer ship that was torpedoed and bombed during World War II reached his 100th birthday on Tuesday (June 16). Fred Moore, of Oak Tree Court, spent 14 years of his life in the Royal Navy climbing to the ranks of Lieute

A GODMANCHESTER man who was on a destroyer ship that was torpedoed and bombed during World War II reached his 100th birthday on Tuesday (June 16).

Fred Moore, of Oak Tree Court, spent 14 years of his life in the Royal Navy climbing to the ranks of Lieutenant Commander.

Born in Sheffield in 1908 as one of nine children, Mr Moore joined the navy at the age of 18. During that time he was stationed on many ships including HMS Legion, which was sunk during an attack in Malta in 1942.

"I had many lucky escapes," said Mr Moore. "I saw a lot of ships go down and when we were hit in Malta we were quite lucky because we were in the harbour so we jumped ship and swam to shore."

After the navy he moved to London where he worked for the director of Barclays Bank, first as a house sitter and then as a commissioner butler. He remained there for 20 years and then retired.

He married his wife, Barbara when she was 21 and he was 41, in December 1947 and they had two sons, David and Paul.

The couple lived in Gillingham, Whittlesey and then became Oak Tree Courts second residents when they moved there just after it had finished being built in 1986.

Mrs Moore died 12 years ago.

To stay fit and active Mr Moore plays snooker on Friday lunchtimes with his fellow Oak Tree Court residents, Jeff Stott and Alf Glynn, at the Comrades Club.

Mr Moore said: "They always say you silly fool you can't play snooker, but I'm okay once I get to the table...its just getting myself there."

He celebrated his birthday with two parties and a lunch. His friends and family named a star after him and brought him the front page of The Times newspaper from the day he was born.