Former Ulverston fire station officer Les Preston turns 100

Les Preston celebrated the milestone with members of Ulverston Fire Station turning out to wish him a happy birthday.

Mr Preston, who was born in bred in Ulverston, is a Second World War veteran who was in the Royal Air Force.

Mr Preston in the Airforce (Image: Submitted)

He joined the fire service in Ulverston in 1949 where for eight years he was the officer in charge of 21 firemen.

After 30 years in service, he retired in 1979 at the age of 55.

Of the 21 firemen, the three survivors joined him for his birthday celebrations.

(left to right) Remaining firemen from his era standing: Roy Athersmith, Dave Farren, Mick Denyer. (Image: Submitted)

Mr Preston said: "We had a special celebration with a lot of people coming to see me and it was held in Fell Street Community Centre. It was absolutely wonderful."

He attended a major fire of the liner Oronsay in Barrow in 1951 - specialist crews came from as far away as Liverpool.

The liner Oronsay on fire (Image: Submitted)

In his time he also attended a large fire at Holker Hall as well as one at Wray Castle, where he was the officer in charge of both of those.

He explained that the fire at Wray Castle was 'completely out of his area'.

"The chief fire officer insisted that I was the officer in charge of that fire," he said.

"I always wanted to be a fireman. I lived near the fire station all my life.

Mr Preston with the firefighters on his birthday (Image: Submitted)

"Firemen today are brilliant. The actual people rescuing or finding the people in that sunken yacht in Sicily are firemen."

When asked what his secret for a long life is, Mr Preston said: "I have never smoked and I have never drunk alcohol until these last three or four years when I found a liking for a dry white wine with a meal. I also like Baileys cream cherry."