A CENTENARIAN celebrated his 100th birthday with an exercise class!

Stewart Gilbert, of the Mulberries sheltered housing scheme in Braintree, marked the milestone in a special way.

His weekly chair-based exercise class was interrupted by staff, friends and family wanting to celebrate his birthday.

Stewart has lived at the Mulberries for a year and a half.

The former long-distance lorry driver was the youngest of nine children and was based in Sudbury before marrying wife Irene in 1942.

The couple had a daughter, Rita, who is now 73. Stewart and Irene were married for 75 years before she died nearly three years ago.

Since moving to the Mulberries Stewart has been making the most of the chance to stay active.

Rita said: “Stewart often socialises with residents, including bingo on Tuesdays, chair-based exercise classes on Wednesdays, coffee mornings on Thursdays and fish and chip Fridays – not to mention the monthly sing-songs!”

Wellbeing co-ordinator James Taylor said: “Stewart is an inspiration and we are very proud to have him in our class.