Overview

• Dougie Shelley marked his centenary at a tea party hosted by the Royal Naval Association’s Southend branch on Tuesday.
• Organisers counted 16,266 birthday cards by Monday, with well-wishes arriving from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
• Messages from the King and from Downing Street were held back for him to open during the celebration.
• He arrived to a guard of honour, received a traditional tot of rum, and was described as overwhelmed by the response.
• Shelley joined the Royal Navy at 17, served on Arctic Convoys, and manned guns on HMS Milne during D-Day to protect the landings from enemy aircraft.