Royal Navy veteran from Littlehampton celebrates his 100th birthday

Thomas Henry Belchamber, known as Tom, was born in Littlehampton on November 12, 1920, and left school at the age of 12.

He was a gas fitter for a few years, going from job to job on his bike, carrying all his tools around with him.

He then joined the Royal Navy and completed nearly 30 years’ service. He loved his life at sea but left the Navy when his wife became ill.

Tom had married Vera in 1943 and they had three children, Malcolm, Marilyn and Derek.

Derek said: “He has been all around the world. He was a Royal Navy diver for seven years. It was his job to take all the limpet mines off the side of the ship.

“The only reason he came out was because my mum was ill. He retired from the Navy as Chief Petty Officer.”

Vera passed away in 1966 and Tom got a job in Rustington at the engineering firm KDG, where he met his second wife, Christine.

After a few years together, they decided to sell up and retire to Menorca to spend more time doing their favourite hobbies, diving and swimming.

They lived in Menorca for nearly 30 years until Christine became ill and passed away. Tom then sold up and moved back to Littlehampton, where he lived alone for around 15 years.

For the past three years, Tom has lived with Derek in Worthing.

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