HOLYBOURNE war veteran Cecil ‘Chick’ Chandler has celebrated his 95th birthday.

Cecil, who was also known as Pop, spent the day at his niece’s home with Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) friends and family.

Pop served during the Second World War as a flight engineer on Stirlings and Lancasters.

And two years ago, the airman was awarded the Legion d’Honneur, the highest French honour by the French Government in recognition of his contribution to the war effort on D-Day.

Pop is also one of the few surviving air crew to hold the Air Crew Europe medal.

After the war, Pop stayed in the RAF and trained as an air traffic controller.

He retired to his home in Holybourne aged 55 and has lived there for the last 40 years.

Pop was one of the founder members of the Air Training Corps in Alton and still enjoys meeting up with the current boys and girls who train there.

He also enjoys gardening, golf, antique sales, RAFA and family gatherings.

Pop Chandler is pictured being congratulated by Alton mayor Derek Gardner on his birthday.