Romford veteran 'Len the Legend' to celebrate 107th birthday

Frank V Oldham, known to everyone as Len, will mark the milestone on Thursday (September 24).

A Second World War veteran, Len served in the British Army with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

He is believed to be one of the oldest surviving British Army veterans.

At 106 years old, he is still active in the Romford community, playing crib on Monday nights at the Romford Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Club and enjoying evenings at the Romford British Legion.

Len with his late wife Kitty (Image: Zoe Winney)

He lives with his daughter Lesley and son-in-law Graham, and is a proud granddad to Paul and Glenn and great-grandad to Frank and Albert.

He shared many happy years with his wife Kit before her death, his family said.

Zoë Winney, his granddaughter-in-law, said: "We’re immensely proud of Len and feel so fortunate to be celebrating his 107th birthday together.

Len enjoys spending time with his family (Image: Zoe Winney)

"He has lived an extraordinary life but, for us, the most special thing about him is simply the wonderful dad, grandad and great-grandad he is.

"He’s still young at heart, still making us laugh and is very deserving of the name ‘Len the Legend’."

Zoe said that in 2017, aged 97, Len became an internet sensation after a video of him showing his great-grandchildren how to box went viral.

The clip was shared by footballers and professional boxers alike, earning him the nickname ‘Len the Legend’ among family and friends.

Last year, Len attended The Not Forgotten Association’s veterans’ Christmas event at St James’s Palace, which was attended by HRH The Princess Royal.