D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday

Frank Doran was just 19 years old during the D-Day landings

A D-Day veteran from Worcestershire is celebrating his 100th birthday.

Frank Doran from Worcester enlisted into the army when he was 18, serving between 1942 and 1947.

He then went on to be the first headteacher of Blessed Edward Oldcorne College in 1963 and stayed in the position for 22 years.

When asked for his secret to a long and full life he said having a "lovely lady" as his wife and keeping himself busy.

The D-Day landings took place on 6 June 1944 during World War Two.

The landings marked the start of the campaign to free north-west Europe from the Nazis.

Recalling the day itself, Mr Doran said: "We made our way inland very quickly and that was it.

"We got stationed and waited and the guns went off - bang, bang, bang.

"We did our job."

Mr Doran said the secret to a long life was keeping busy

The current head teacher of Blessed Edward Oldcorne College, Gregory McClary, paid tribute to the 100-year-old.

He said: "I just want to pass on the gratitude people have towards him and the fact he set the school up.

"He put what we have today in motion so my underlying words to Frank would be 'thank you so much for what you did.'"

Paul Coward, a former student at the school and now a teacher, added: "Last year we had the 60th anniversary of the school opening and Frank was invited to that mass and the celebrations that followed.

"The head teacher introduced Frank as the founder and the first head teacher of the school.

"The children, unprompted and unscripted, actually stood up and gave him a standing ovation."