RAF veteran Fred still out and about as he turns 105

Grandfather recalls VE Day celebrations

- KAIYA MARJORIBANKS

A former WWII Royal Air Force (RAF) veteran marked VE Day by turning 105 this week.

Fred Walker celebrated his 105th birthday on Monday (May 5).

Fred is visited twice a week by Strathcarron Hospice’s Creative Homecare team and had shared his life history with staff, including about his time in the war -and staff were amazed to hear about some of his experiences.

Creative Homecare is a social enterprise care service where all the profits are reinvested back into the hospice to fund the work carried out supporting end of life and palliative care patients.

Fred was born in Falkirk in May 1920 before moving with his family to Stirling where his dad was in private service as a chauffeur for the Touch Estate. Once he had finished his schooling at Riverside School and Stirling High School, he returned to the area to work in The Grange Foundry as a pattern maker.

When war was declared in 1939 he joined the RAF and spent six years in the forces travelling the world as an aircraft mechanic, stationed in England, Ireland, the Shetland Islands and Africa. During this time, whilst stationed in Aberdeen in 1944, he met wife Marjory who was in the Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).

After the war Fred returned with his wife to Scotland, first to Stirling to stay with his parents and then the couple set up home at Mungalhead Road, Bainsford. Fred returned to work in The Grange Foundry until he retired.