A 91-year-old man has heard his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s voices for the first time thanks to a life-changing surgery.

Raymond Kelly, the world’s oldest patient to be fitted with a new type of cochlear implant, has suffered progressive hearing loss since childhood.

A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that can help provide a “sense of sound” to someone who is deaf or very hard of hearing.

Although it cannot restore normal hearing, it can give the person a good idea of sounds so they can learn to understand speech.

The two-hour operation, which Raymond underwent at St George’s Hospital in March, involved surgically placing the implant under the skin of the head.

Recent tests have proved it was a success, meaning Mr Kelly, from New Malden, can hear his 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren for the first time.

Raymond’s hearing problems began when he was a child and at seven he was offered an operation.

However, fearful of the risks involved, his parents refused.

Despite his hearing loss, Raymond was not deterred from living an active life, and he joined the Air Cadets during the Second World War.

Raymond said: “I went on to have a successful 25 year career with British Aerospace where I drew intricate technical illustrations for Concorde, and other previous airliners, for publication.

“However, my hearing continued to deteriorate through the years.

“I was always very sociable but I started to stop going out as I could no longer hear what was going on.”

Raymond’s wife Olivia said: “Eventually last year we were referred to St George’s to see if Ray was suitable for a cochlear implant, which he was.

“We were all a bit nervous about the operation but he’s made a good recovery. I can’t believe the high standard of expertise at the hospital – everyone’s been amazing.”

This particular implant is thinner than previous models and “not as disruptive”.

Describing Raymond as a “real character”, Rob Harris, the ear, nose and throat consultant who carried out the implant, said: “The aim was to improve his hearing and allow him to maintain his independence.

“We’re lucky that St George’s is a centre of excellence for cochlear implants, and that we have a great team from across many clinical areas to carry out these complex procedures.”

Raymond said: “The implant has changed my life.

“It used to be so frustrating having to get people to write down what they wanted to say to me.

“Now I can hear my family’s voices, and listen to the radio and birds singing. I couldn’t be happier.”