LYNCHMERE resident Michael Tibbs celebrated his 100th birthday last weekend, with a surprise party organised by the Lynchmereans Pantomime Group.

Michael moved to Lynchmere 89 years ago, in 1932, when his father was appointed vicar.

He married Anne Wortley in 1951 and together they worked in the Kordofan district of Sudan until 1954, when they returned to Lynchmere, where Michael has lived ever since.

He is well known for his efforts to purchase Lynchmere and Stanley commons for the Lynchmere Society, and as the producer of the Lynchmere Pantomime which was started by his father in 1947.

To celebrate this the Lynchmereans put on a surprise performance for him on Saturday, with 80 members and former members of the pantomime cast.

After singing happy birthday to Michael the cast of the most recent Lynchmere Pantomime, Aladdin, came onto the stage in a Chinese dragon and performed an excerpt from Aladdin with rousing songs from previous productions.

On Sunday, the day of Michael’s birthday, there was a service in Lynchmere Church with a special choir brought together for the occasion and Michael’s son Philip playing the organ.

The congregation ended the service by singing happy birthday.