A horse lover marked his 107th birthday with a surprise visit from one of his favourite four-legged friends.
Jack Ovens, a resident at the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond, celebrated his landmark birthday and lifetime love of horses with Jim the shire horse.
Teddington-born Mr Ovens served in the Royal Dragoons regiment between 1926 and 1932, first as a Trooper, then as Corporal of Horse. The 107-year-old started looking after horses in the Army when he was 18.
At one point, he was in charge of 43 horses.
Mr Ovens said: “The way you can tell if a horse likes you is if they nudge you with their nose.”
Jack Ovens celebrates his 107th birthday
Former That’s Life TV presenter Adrian Mills, whose grandfather shares a military past with Mr Ovens, also joined in the celebrations on Monday, July 29.
Mr Ovens was later joined by relatives and fellow residents for cake, music and a card from the Queen, a patron of the home.
Mr Ovens was posted to Secunderabad, India, in 1929.
He was recalled during the Second World War, retraining as a tank driver and serving in Egypt and then Italy.
Dr Pat Ealey and Dr Andreas Liefooghe brought Jim along for the birthday celebrations from the Holly Lodge Centre, which promotes the horse as a contemporary working animal in partnership with humans.
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