Fred given key to the door...aged 84
84 year Fred Jones who will celebrate his 21st birthday of February 29. Pictured with, grandson, Richard Jones, wife Dorothy and son Ray Jones
Young-at-heart Fred Jones quite fancies a night on the tiles to celebrate his 21st birthday.
But, born on a leap year in 1928, Fred will actually be celebrating his 84th birthday on February 29.
And great-grandfather Fred told the Evening Post: “I forgot I was 21 this year until my family reminded me!”
This year, the retired miner, from Hargreaves Close in Ingol, Preston, will also celebrate his diamond wedding anniversary with wife Dorothy.
He joked: “I still feel young at heart.
“I wouldn’t mind going clubbing for my birthday but I don’t drink a lot so I don’t think I’d be able to.
“I certainly don’t sit there every night with knitting needles.”
Like other 21-year-olds, Fred likes to play his computer, though Dorothy, 80, said: “He’s probably not as computer literate as other 21-year-olds, but he likes messing about with editing photographs and he also loves his telly.
“Back when he was in his 21st year, he wasn’t a big drinker but he liked a pint like any other young man. He loved going cycling.
“He still acts like a 21-year-old sometimes.”
Dorothy, who met Fred at a cycle club when she was 15 and went on to have a son and daughter with him, added: “I’m going to send him a 21st card but I don’t have a clue what to get him.
“We don’t know what the family have up their sleeves as when Fred was 70 they sent him up in a hot air balloon .
“When he was 80 they took us on the London Eye.”
Fred’s grandson Richard said: “He still gets out and about, he loves having a walk out.
“The strange thing was in the year I turned 16, so did he!”
Fred and Dorothy first moved to Preston around 10 years ago.
The couple, who have five grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren, previously lived in Merseyside.
Fred worked as a bevin boy for several years in the Cronton Colliery.
They have also previously lived in Blackpool.
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Weather for Preston
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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