A COUNTY centenarian described as “Fixum” because of his willingness to mend things celebrated his birthday surrounded by family last week.

Ken Phillips was born near Wigmore in 1914 and last week welcomed family to the Old Vicarage Residential Care Home in the same village to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Mr Phillips originally sold and repaired agricultural machinery and equipment and was the main Allis Chalmers dealer for Herefordshire and Shropshire for many years.

The company later became known as T K Phillips Plant Hire – located in Wigmore with depots in Leominster and Craven Arms – which carried out plant hire work, drainage and water installations on farms and properties throughout Herefordshire and South Shropshire.

Daughter Freda Duke, said: "He is a redoubtable old man, a larger than life character who is something of an institution to all his friends and many acquaintances both young and old.

"He has been fondly always known as 'Fixum' because of his habit of saying, when presented with a problem or something to repair, 'I'll fix it for you mon'."

A former chairman of the Herefordshire Motor Agents Association, Mr Phillips was heavily involved in community and village life with his wife Mag, who died in 1997.

He also enjoyed typical country pursuits, raising his pheasants and shooting with his dogs.

Mr Phillips was surrounded by family and friends during his birthday celebrations last week, and the Old Vicarage Home made it a special day with a buffet, cake and lots of balloons and decorations.