RELATIVES from as far away as America and Canada flew into Middlesbrough to celebrate the 100th birthday of Doctor Patrick Barclay.

Dr Barclay still lives in his own home in Marton but regularly attends Kirkley Lodge Day Centre where 16 members of this family, including daughter Mary from Canada and sons, Patrick from and London and Andrew from the USA joined him for the celebration.

The centenarian served with the Field Ambulance, 51st Highland Division in the 2nd World War and was a GP at the Kings Road surgery in North Ormesby until he retired at 70 years old. He was a keen rock climber and loved hiking in the Cairngorms.

When he stopped driving at 90 years old he immediately dug out his old rucksack from his student days and thought nothing of walking from his home in Marton to Coulby Newham shopping centre and back.

Jackie Reilly, manager of Kirkley Lodge said: "Doctor Barclay was my GP when I was a child, I recognised him the minute he came into our centre and its lovely that Im now given the chance to look after him.

"He's very quiet and polite but very independent. He likes to observe what is going on around him and often has a good chuckle to himself."