Former Army major and clergyman Ruggles Fisher celebrates his 100th birthday at home in Oakham

Being at peace with God has helped Ruggles Fisher through all the challenges life has thrown at him.

The former Army major and clergyman will celebrate his 100th birthday today with visits from friends and neighbours at his Oakham home.

Born on June 12, 1920 Ruggles grew up in Lyston on the border of Suffolk and Essex.

He was home-schooled until the age of 10 when he moved to boarding school and then started his Army training at Sandhurst at the age of 18.

Ruggles said: “I had a very nice childhood taken up with country sports like tennis and fishing.

“It was a bit of a stretch leaving home at 10 but my parents had taught me well and it was good for my education.”

He joined the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1939 and served all over the world including a spell in Burma where he met his wife Doreen.

They got engaged on February 29 1948, the day before Ruggles left the UK for Germany.

They set a date for the wedding four months later by which time a Russian blockade had Ruggles trapped in Berlin.

He said: “The only way I could get leave to return to England was to sign up to a week-long gas course in Salisbury which I attended straight after our wedding.

“It was probably interesting but I didn’t give it my full attention.”

Doreen joined Ruggles in Germany five months later and they went on to have two children, Richard, 62, and Jane, 60.

Ruggles retired from the Army aged 38 and joined the priesthood.

He said: “I’ve always had a strong faith. It helped me when I was a boy and then when I left the Army I had a calling to be ordained."

Ruggles started as a curate in Melton Mowbray and later became a rector in Husbands Bosworth.

He retired in 1982 and moved to Oakham but continued to help out with services when he was needed.

During retirement Ruggles continued his fishing hobby at Rutland Water He also enjoys chess.

His son Richard now lives in Market Harborough and Jane lives in Wales. Her four children live in America, Vietnam, Finland and Wales so Ruggles embraces new technology to keep in touch with his family.

Today he will celebrate his birthday with neighbours in The Dell but hopes to enjoy a family party later this year.

Ruggles is also looking forward to receiving a card from the queen, which will be framed alongside the card she sent for his 60th wedding anniversary to Doreen.