World War Two veteran turns 106

Arthur Steel served in the RAF during World War Two

A man from Weston-super-Mare who fought in World War Two will mark his 106th birthday this Sunday.

Arthur Steel, who was born in Bristol, was a navigational and radio operator in the RAF.

In 1944 his plane went down over a North Sea minefield following a mission in Norway and he was the sole survivor.

He will be celebrating his special day at his care home with his family.

'Keeping alive and keeping going'

Discussing his age, Arthur said he was lucky to have his family around to help him.

He was born in Bristol in 1917 and remembers a very different city from today.

"Oh it's changed totally," he said.

Arthur Steel, pictured when he was a baby with his mother

During the Bristol Blitz he helped deliver fire engines to extinguish buildings.

"There was a horrible smell everywhere and you'd see bits of wreckage, holes where houses or buildings used to be," he said.

He also recalled when trams operated in Bristol, saying he was hit by one when on his bike on Gloucester Road in the city, joking: "I don't know how many millions you'd be able to get now in expenses."

Instead, he received £20 in compensation which went towards a new suit and bike repairs.

A model of the plane Mr Steel went down in during World War Two

In his time in the RAF his plane went down into the North Sea and he almost drowned.

He was rescued by the skipper of boat that was nearby who was later awarded an MBE.

A newspaper cutting from 1944 after the plane crash

Mr Steel added that his long life was not down to anything in particular but is about "keeping alive and keeping going".

Mr Steel looks forward to celebrating with his daughter Sheila

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