Second World War Veteran Joseph Havican has told his family he doesn't want any fuss - even on his 101st birthday.
Joseph, who still lives independently in his Castleton home, was one of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery's famous Eighth Army 'Desert Rats' who defeated German commander Rommel in the decisive Second Battle of El Alamein in North Africa in 1942.
He was born on May 17, 1920, in Whitworth to parents William - a labourer - and Emma, who worked in a local cotton mill.
"I remember the horses and carts trundling round the town when I was a youngster," said Joseph. "I can remember it like it was yesterday."
As Hitler took control of Germany and with war looming, he signed up for the Army in 1938 at barracks on Bury and served until it ended, before marrying late wife Lilian in 1946.
After the war he worked as a welder at various engineering companies around Rochdale.
They had two daughters, the late Pauline Havican and Linda Dunford.
Linda, who helps out with Joseph's care, said: "He's been active all his life. He loves his garden and still tends to it to this day.
"We're blessed that he has fabulous neighbours."
Following the war, Joseph played golf until he was 92 at Castle Hawk and Blackley golf clubs and achieved a handicap of 15 at his peak. Aged 89 he flew to Vietnam to visit his grandson Nick, who is an English teacher there.
And she said one of Joseph's heroes was the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, a man of the same age who raised millions for the NHS by doing laps of his garden.
Linda added: "When Prince Philip died, my dad stood to attention, because that's how much he respected the Duke of Edinburgh, who himself was a officer in the Royal Navy.
"My dad wouldn't have wanted a party, regardless of the lockdown issues. He's a very humble, but we just manage some cake."
