Weldon bricklayer John celebrates 100th birthday in the town that he built

A former Weldon builder has celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family at at Willow Brook House Care Home where he now lives in retirement.

John 'Jack' Young, a Master Builder, had been bricklaying up until his mid-nineties, fitting in work around his bowls matches, until he moved to Corby two years ago.

Mr Young estimated that the firm he founded built 40 houses and bungalows in his home village of Weldon as well as five in Cottingham and one in Rushton, and worked on numerous homes in Corby as the town's housing estates grew.

Mr Young said: "I always had work with Corby growing. In 1932, I started to build the houses opposite the furnaces. We built the houses for the workers. I used to like bricklaying. When I worked for myself, I did the whole lot, from the foundations to the top of the chimney.

"I remember when Corby was just a village. I would get on the bus from Weldon for two pence and I would walk up to Shire Lodge, where my cousin lived. It was just fields either side of the road."

Mr Young was born in The Square, Weldon where he lived with mum and dad Frances and Walter, and older sisters Clara and May.

Leaving school at 14, he started work on the Deene Estate, cycling the six-mile round trip from his farm hand job, milking cows for 8/6-a-week.

At 16, he went to work on a building site to learn bricklaying, a career that he stuck with throughout his whole life.

During the Second World War, Mr Young was medically unfit for active service, due to a childhood illness, so he drove tractors to help the war effort.

After the war, Mr Young set up his own firm as a Master Builder, buying land, mostly in Weldon, and building houses and bungalows one job at a time, helped by a small team of men.

Mr Young met and married his wife Rosemary in 1952 with son Eddie being born soon after and daughter Karen being born 16 years later.

After helping to re-hang the bells at Deene church, Mr Young was inspired to take up bellringing firstly at Deene and then at St Mary's Church, Weldon, but it was bowls, both indoor and outdoor, that he would lay down his trowel for.

Although not able to play anymore, Mr Young still enjoys visiting the Corby Forest Bowls Club where he has been a member for over 25 years.

He puts down his long life to hard work, not smoking and taking exercise.

Mr Young received a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen, was entertained by a singer and cut a bowls-themed cake, a gift from staff.

He added: "It's been a great party. It's important to enjoy yourself in life. I enjoyed being a builder."

As well as two children, Mr Young has four grandchildren Alex, Iain, Harry and Adele.