A GROUP of Barnsley veterans have helped a former paratrooper celebrate his 98th birthday.

Tom Hicks, of Royston, marked the milestone on Monday but started celebrations early with pals from the Barnsley Veterans Breakfast Club when they met last Saturday at the Joseph Bramah pub in Barnsley town centre.

Julie Duffin, who helps organise the breakfast club meetings, said Tom was chuffed to bits that members had gone to such an effort for him, with more than 30 turning out to wish him well.

“He was made up,” said Julie, 48, whose partner John Duffin is a member of the club.

“Two of the members, Alan and Jean Curtis, made him a cake with his regiment badge on and they made some buns.

“Tom was chatting away to everyone and got up and thanked us all.

“He just said ‘same time next year?’ and had a couple of tears in his eyes.”

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle