Norman and Albert turned 101!

20 August 2020

Norman Lewis, who turned 101 on 15^th August, and Albert Cliffe, who turned 101 on 13^th August, were visited by SSAFA Staffordshire and Tri Services and Veterans Support Centre on Friday 14^th August to celebrate their birthdays.

The two gentlemen both served in the Royal Engineers during World War Two, with Albert serving in North Africa, Italy and France. However, Norman was captured by the Germans in 1940 and held as a prisoner of war in Poland for five years, until he embarked on an epic 10,000-mile escape.

The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr Ian Dudson, and his wife Jane, joined the charities at Norman’s home in Stoke-on-Trent where Tri Services and Veterans Support Centre Chairman, Geoff Harriman, presented the former Royal Engineer with a cake and gifts.

The charities then visited Albert, who served in North Africa with the 8^th Army as a Royal Engineer, to celebrate his birthday and present him with a cake and gifts.

The gentlemen were due to meet for the first time at an event organised by the charities, but due to Covid restrictions and ill-health, the organisations decided to take the event to them in the comfort of their own homes.

Kathy Munslow, Divisional Secretary at SSAFA Staffordshire, said: 

“We all celebrated the boys’ birthdays. It was such a lovely day and they really enjoyed it. It was just fantastic!”

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