When Cyril Chapple was born, George V was on the throne, Asquith was Prime Minister and the first Chelsea Flower Show was held in London.
It was also the year suffragette Emily Davison ran out in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby, was trampled and died four days later.
Cyril was born in Midsomer Norton in 1913 and celebrated his 105th birthday at Charlton House, a residential home in Keynsham, run by not-for-profit social enterprise, Sirona care & health
“I can remember my mother ran a shop in the front of the house; she thought rather than leave it for special occasions, we should do something with it. I used to have to get her ice to make ice cream and she used to make toffee apples”, he recalls.
Cyril served as a soldier during the second world war in France, Africa and Italy and cooked for the troops. He can remember seeing Rommel – the German general also known as the Desert Fox.
“I saw Rommel in his car when I was on duty down a lane; he speeded off when he saw me; I was surprised to see him.”
Cyril puts his longevity down to “eating the right food and drinking the right drink; I don’t think beer is good for you.”
A special cake was baked for a tea party at Charlton House in Cyril’s honour which was attended by Sirona’s chairman Simon Knighton, staff and fellow residents.
