A CENTURY of an interesting and successful life was celebrated at Cadmore Lodge last week when family and friends of Guernsey born Rex Trouteaud gathered for a special birthday lunch.

Born in 1903, Rex's father was a jeweller, watch maker and maker of eye glasses. Rex followed in his footsteps, training as an optician and spectacle maker and setting up his own practice in fashionable Smith Street, St. Peter Port.

He became a highly-respected and successful business man, and in his early 20s was elected into the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and made Freeman of the City of London.

Conscripted into the Royal Guernsey Militia, at the outbreak of the Second World War, he refused to leave the island and continued to live and practice under German occupation. He recalled: "It was a very difficult decision. Women, children and men of military age could leave before the Germans arrived and friends warned me not to stay, but like many other local families mine chose to stay on and put on a show of strength.

"We were still part of the UK so the occupying army was reluctant to treat us too badly for fear of repercussions, yet they still kept us short of supplies, and it was only in the last year of occupation that the Red Cross supply vessels finally got through. Starved of food, I went down to seven stone.

"However, the Germans rarely interfered with my work. I even had to test their eyes and make up eye glasses for the officers and men," he added.

Guernsey was finally liberated in 1945 and Rex settled into a very busy working life.

Retiring to Tenbury Wells, in 1985, he married his second wife, Christine and inherited a family of two daughters, five grandchildren and a great grandchild.

The sprightly centenarian has kept a record of his life experiences in Guernsey.

Asked about the highlights in his long and successful life, he said: "Becoming a Freeman of the City of London was a very special moment and also when my sister was given the MBE for her work with the Red Cross.

"I enjoy living in Tenbury Wells. Despite my past experiences during the occupation, it's now history and I have joined the Frankeneck/Tenbury Twinning Society," he added.