A D-DAY veteran who still carries shrapnel from wounds he suffered in Normandy celebrated with family and friends at Avalon Nursing Home in Bridgwater to mark his 100th birthday

William Leo Jennings, known to his family as Billy, is a past president of the Somerset Golf Union, and former captain of Enmore Golf Club where for many years he and his wife Jean were ‘the pair to beat’ in club competitions.

Born in Ireland and raised near Liverpool, Billy met Jean, who also lives at Avalon, at the local badminton club and they married in 1951.

His first job after the war was in the sports department of Browns of Chester, and it was in Chester that the Billy’s son, Andrew, was born in 1955.

In 1958 the family moved to Colchester when Billy became a travelling sales rep for leading golf club manufacturers of the day, Spalding UK, a ‘dream job’ which came with a company car.

Shortly after moving to Colchester, Billy, who is a keen golfer, was snatched up by the local golf club in spite of a long waiting list when they learned his handicap was scratch.

Andrew said: “They found a place for him straight away when he told them about that.

“Billy wasn’t known for hiding his light under a bushel. When something needed to be said he usually said it, although actually this made him many friends among the members.”

Billy met many of the leading lights in the sporting world and he played golf in the 1950’s and early 60’s with some of the world’s best professionals.

In 1964 Billy and his family moved to Bridgwater when he took up a new job as a West Country sales rep for Thomlinson’s Golf.

Billy dedicated lots of his time to Enmore Golf Club’s competitions committee as well as helping the county juniors, and was appointed Somerset County president in 1990.

He also took up the role of voluntary treasurer for Bridgwater Sea Cadets, receiving a commendation from the captain of the corps for the practical support he gave.

At Billy’s party guests were entertained by a professional singer and Billy’s family laid on two birthday cakes for the party decorated with some of their favourite pictures of Billy.

The celebrations finished with a glass of bubbly and Andrew presenting his father with his telegram from the Queen.