Former York driving instructor Reg Butler celebrates his 100th birthday (From York Press)

Former York driving instructor Reg Butler celebrates his 100th birthday

1:30pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009 in Search By Richard Catton , richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

A FORMER York driving instructor has finally given up his licence after more than 80 years as he celebrates his 100th birthday.

Reg Butler could boast keeping a clean driving licence for 83 years, but yesterday saw him finally swap it for a telegram from the Queen, as he celebrated the landmark birthday with family and friends.

Mr Butler, who lives at Rosevale Residential Home, in Wigginton, is also believed to be the oldest Freeman of the City of York, and yesterday he was paid a surprise visit by the Master of the Guild of Freeman, Tom Gibson.

Speaking during the celebrations Mr Butler, a former Park Grove School pupil, said: “It’s been wonderful up to now. Everybody has been enjoying themselves and the weather has been beautiful.”

A wide range of ages turned up yesterday to celebrate with Mr Butler, including his 90-year-old sister-in-law and Lily his great granddaughter, who is two-and-a-half years old.

His son, Alan, 72, said: “He’s as fit as a fiddle. Since he went in to the care home he has improved immensely. His problem now is that he’s too bright upstairs for someone his age.

“He’s been looking forward to this since he was about 40,” he joked. “There’s a lot of champagne around.”

In his 20s, Mr Butler worked at Rowntree’s before setting up a general store close to his childhood home in Haxby Road.

After shrewdly predicting the rise of the supermarket, he sold his business in 1970 and became a driving instructor, which he admits he did “very well out of.” A talented athlete, Mr Butler joined the York Harriers and during the lean times of the 1930s, was able to make money with his athletic skills – but not without some risk.

Speaking to The Press last year, he said: “In those days you were strictly amateur. Of course we were in a slump then – worse than we are now. At 21, I lost my job at Rowntree’s, but I had two children, so I used to go out to the country fetes and meetings and race for the money. You got paid for each race and I could earn 50 shillings which was a lot of money.”