RAF veteran at Devonshire Court celebrates his 100th birthday
12 September 2023
A resident at Devonshire Court, in Leicester, recently celebrated his 100th birthday. To mark the special milestone, resident William Stanney (known as John) enjoyed a VIP day out to The Victory Show in Cosby, and met two other WWII veterans.
John was born in Brentford, Middlesex in April 1923. As a child, John was neighbours with both sets of his grandparents. A fond childhood memory he had, was bringing six hens to his mother and sister to keep at home so they could both have an egg for their tea every day.
John went to school until he was 15 years old, then spent a year working for a local butcher, delivering orders and working in the shop.
On 6th March 1939, he started an apprenticeship with Sperry Gyroscope Ltd, as an Aircraft Instrumental Maker. In June 1941, John joined the 116 squadron with the Royal Air Force and later, he was sent to Aden in Yemen with the 621 squadron.
In 1944, after being involved in a plane crash and suffering burns on his hands, John learned to knit whilst he was in a hospital in Cairo.
After the war, John moved to America where he had a job with the Lear Jet Corporation. He met his wife to be, Mavis Bardsley, and they married in September 1949. They had two daughters, Gail and Helen. Mavis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1967 and sadly passed away in 1983.
John met Pamela later that year and re-married in October 1984. He returned to the UK and went back to work with Sperry Gyroscope Ltd until his retirement in 1988.
Sadly, John passed away shortly after his 100th Birthday peacefully at his Home Devonshire Court.
[Summary: RAF veteran and resident William Stanney (known as John) at Devonshire Court, in Leicester, celebrated his 100th birthday with a VIP day trip to The Victory Show.]
