A VETERAN who served in the Air Force during the Second World War received two telegrams from the Queen to mark his 100th birthday.

Ronald Rayner was born in 1919 in Greenstead Road, Colchester. The oldest of four siblings, he attended St Andrew’s Primary School and Hamilton Road School in the town.

After leaving school, he became an apprentice engineering pattern maker at F W Brackett, a foundry then based in the Hythe.

During his time at the business he worked on the First World War memorial plates which can now be seen on trees in Avenue of Remembrance and on a memorial wall at the Albert roundabout.

At the same time as working on his apprenticeship he also studied for City and Guilds at the old Technical College, in North Hill.

But his career was disrupted as the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was called up to help with the war effort in 1939.

He served in Derbyshire and Malta, working on aircraft maintenance and enduring air raids until he left the forces in 1946.

Shortly after his return to Colchester he began teacher training and got his first role at East Ward School, which was at the site of Colonia Court, the care home where Mr Rayner now lives.

Mr Rayner taught in Surrey and Hertfordshire before returning to Colchester in 1958 to teach at the new Monkwick School, now Thomas, Lord Audley.

He retired in 1976 as deputy head of the school and spent his new leisure time pursuing his hobbies of sailing, caravanning and travelling from his home in Brightlingsea.

Mr Rayner became an active member of the Royal Naval Association, a Freeman of Brightlingsea, serving as deputy in 1991, and a long-serving Freemason.

Mr Rayner’s daughter Brenda Parrish said: “My father was married twice having two daughters from his first marriage and a step-daughter and two step-sons from his second.

“He has nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

“He lived independently in Brightlingsea until he had a fall last year aged 99 and it was agreed by all that he would be safer in a care home.

“In Blomfield House (part of Colonia Court) he is well looked after, enjoys having visitors and continues to read the Telegraph which is delivered daily.”