Veteran surprised with Royal Marines Band performance on 102nd birthday

WATCH: A 102-year-old veteran was surprised with a Royal Marines Band performance as part of his birthday celebrations

A Royal Marines Band in Hampshire has helped a veteran celebrate his 102nd birthday by performing for him at his celebrations.

Jeffrey Broadhurst was treated to some classic tunes courtesy of the HMS Collingwood band.

He was joined by his friends, family and fellow residents of the Parker Meadows care home in Fareham.

He said: “I really enjoyed today, it was very unexpected. I was just expecting a little group of us in the corner having a nice quiet drink and a chat.”

When asked how he felt about the celebrations, he said: “Not much different than my 101st except it was a bigger do.”

His daughter Kay Dunleavy said: “It’s just so special to have the band service perform for Dad today.

“Mum and Dad used to go to all the band’s concerts together when they lived in Exmouth and the last one he went to was actually here in Portsmouth with my mother. It’s very special.”

Band Sergeant Martyn Chapman said: “It’s a nice touch for the band to help celebrate a former Royal Marine’s birthday. It’s continuing their legacy, it’s recognising their service they gave and being able to give something back.”

Originally from Wolverhampton, Jeff was forced to cut short his education aged 14 and help support his family by earning a wage, settling on an apprenticeship as a butcher.

The war interrupted that training and after first joining the Home Guard (‘Dad’s Army’), when he came of age Jeff was called up and joined the Army.

His interest in sport, including swimming, water polo and cricket, led to him transferring to the Royal Marines as a sergeant with 40 Commando.

The wartime unit saw action in Italy – including the famous landings at Anzio - and Albania and Greece.

40 Commando’s war ended on the Greek island of Corfu, where Jeff earned his ‘wings’, qualifying as a parachutist with the RAF.

After the Second World War, he worked on farms in Exmoor, Wiltshire, Somerset and Hampshire before he moved to Fareham in 2016 with his now late wife Dorothy.

They were together for 72 years and he has a son and a daughter, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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