A FORMER musician and long-serving bowls club member celebrated his centenary birthday by playing his favourite sport.

Bob Murton received VIP treatment yesterday when he joined fellow members of the Shildon Indoor Bowls Club, in County Durham, for a few games at the town’s Sunnydale Leisure Centre.

Mr Murton, who lives in Shildon with his wife of 74 years, Olive, has been granted lifetime membership of the club he joined 25 years ago.

Fittingly, his membership number is 100.

Mr Murton left school at 14 to become an apprentice pattern maker at Shildon Wagon Works.

Several years later, he won a scholarship to Armstrong College, in Newcastle, and later became chief draughtsman in the drawing office at Shildon Wagon Works.

Mr Murton’s father was killed during the First World War, on the first day of the Battle of Somme in 1916.

He vaguely remembers seeing him once, when he was home on leave.

Mr Murton worked through the Second World War, as his job was a reserved occupation, and he undertook the role of air raid warden.

He married his wife, Olive, at St Mark’s Church, Eldon, in 1934, and they have one daughter, Jenifer, who now lives in Lancashire.

The couple always enjoyed dancing and walking, and Mr Murton played in various bands and often led dances at the Imperial Hotel, in Darlington.