A Long Lee man who takes weekly bus trips to the Yorkshire Dales celebrated his 100th birthday on Monday.

Arthur Bailey rides around the limestone areas where for many years he went on regular walks.

Arthur, of Long Lee Lane, has lived in the village all his life since being born in nearby Glen Lee Lane.

He attended the village school before moving to Keighley Boys’ Grammar School at the age of 11.

He moved into his present house in 1935 with wife Marian and within a few years became an armed forces reservist. In 1942 he joined the 6th Airborne Division, landing on the D-Day beaches and fighting through Europe. He was mentioned in dispatches.

After the war he spent a year with the Army in Palestine before returning to his job with the Co-op. He began with the company at 15, becoming an accountant and later a managing secretary.

He was a magistrate for 50 years, spending 10 years as chairman of the bench before retiring in 1981. He was one of four trustees who, in the 1950s, oversaw Sir Bracewell Smith’s handover of Cliffe Castle house and park to the people of Keighley.

Arthur was also on the committee of High Royds Hospital for 20 years and a leading member of Keighley Civic Luncheon Club.

In recent years he has again become a regular attender of Long Lee Methodist Chapel, where he was heavily involved as a young man.

Arthur has been a keen sportsman for most of his life, playing for Long Lee Cricket Club until he was 42 then later golf and bowls.

He said: “Now it’s only tiddlywinks I play!”