EVER young at heart, Jack Carter, a man who was adamant that the three 'B's' – bricklaying, betting and beer – were the secret to a long life, has died just before reaching 101.
He trained as a bricklayer, something he'd wanted to do since the age of 12, and he ended up as a specialist fixing pipes carrying acid used for developing photos at the Mirror Group and Oldhams Press, owners of the Sporting Life.
When war broke out, Jack fought in North Africa as part of the 1st Army invasion force landing near Algiers in 1942 and experiencing heavy fighting around Tunisia.
Following D-Day, Jack was shipped to the Rhine before returning to London. He'd not long been married to Sally, his sweetheart he met mid-war. They were married within seven weeks. After outliving Sally and then his second wife, he moved to Lydney to be near daughter, Sue.
While enjoying his daily tipple at the Royal British Legion club in Lydney, Jack told the Review on the occasion of his 99th birthday: "I've basically got a happy go lucky nature. I couldn't wish to be in a better place at my time of life. I'm not local but I think they're getting used to me now.
"I'd just like to say a big thank you to everyone here. It's not only the beer, but the people drinking with you that matter."
Jack Carter's funeral will take place on April 20, 2011 at Yew Brake Crematorium, Cinderford, at 3pm, with a celebration of his life at the Royal British Legion Club, Lydney for 4pm.