A West Molesey war veteran celebrated his 96th birthday with a pub lunch surrounded by his family.

Frank Batten, born on November 15, 1917, served in the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars cavalry regiment during the Second World War, and was based in north Africa and Italy, only returning home in 1945 at the end of the war.

His eldest son, Brian, 73, recalls the moment his father returned.

He said: “He knocked on the door and there was a lot of us living there and every time there was a knock on the door, all the kids and my auntie got up and tore down the passageway to the front door.

“My aunt beat me every time. In the end, the one that really counted, I beat her and I was the first one out the door.

“He said he always remembers I walked up to him, he had his big kit bag and he dumped it on the doorstep. I said to him ‘Are you my dad?’ and he said ‘yes’ and picked me up and hugged me.”

Mr Batten has six children, three boys and three girls, 18 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

His first wife Olwen died of ovarian cancer aged 57 and his second wife, Pam, who has three children from a previous relationship, turned 83 last month.

To celebrate his 96th birthday, Mr Batten was treated to a pub lunch at one of his favourite places, the Bricklayers Arms in Hersham.

Brian said: “He had a very nice birthday. I bought him a bottle of whisky because that is what he likes at night time. He never wants a lot.

“He loves his garden. He’s 96 but he is always pottering in the garden. “Some evenings we go down to the local chip shop and he loves that. He loves that once a week and likes to share a bottle of red wine.”

Mr Batten was born in Teddington and lived there when he was young before moving to Hampton and then on to Molesey.

Along with gardening and enjoying dinners out with his family, Mr Batten still drives and passes his medical each year, but his son says they do not let him drive too far.