HE'S Britain's real-life Reginald Perrin.

Alive and well in North Yorkshire, he prefers to go by the name Reg and has just quietly celebrated his 80th birthday.

But the grandfather-of-ten is a far cry from the sales executive in the throes of a mid-life crisis, made famous by the 1970s hit television sitcom The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin.

Far from being burnt out, Reg remains active, both mentally and physically - he cycles five miles a day around his home in Norton, helps his daughter, Margaret, deliver The Press when necessary and volunteers for local groups.

He admits his name has caused people to have a few laughs, but friends and family are now quite accustomed to having their very own Reginald Perrin.

"I think some people think I am making it up when I tell them my name," he said. "People pull my leg about it, but most are quite used to it now.

"I was in York Hospital once for 12 days and in a ward of six beds. There was another chap there called Mick Jagger! When the nurse came around she just burst out laughing. She was quite amazed."

But despite the obvious connection and the huge popularity of David Nobbs' comedy series starring Leonard Rossiter, Reg was not a fan. "I wasn't interested in it and didn't watch it. I am not a television fan at all."

Instead of watching the small screen, he fills his time by helping local groups, such as Ryedale In-Touch and Mencap, as well as enjoying domino drives with his wife, Erika, and time with his family. I can't keep still," he said. "People ask me to do things and I just can't say no."

Born in Scarborough, he has lived in the Malton and Norton area for most of his life.

Called up to the Army in September 1944, he served in Northern Ireland two days later, spending about eight months in Omagh.

He then spent nearly a year with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in Alexandria, Egypt, and also served in Abbassia, near Cairo in Egypt, in Jerusalem and Aman, Transjordan.

Demobbed in December 1947, Reg met Erika while working for the Yorkshire Electricity Board in Huddersfield in 1948. They married in 1950 and had four children - Margaret, Brenda, Trevor and Andrew.

Reg then worked for the North Eastern Electricity Board in Malton for 37 years until retiring.

He also served with St John's Ambulance for 35 years, starting out in 1954 as an ambulance man and rising up to become the divisional superintendent of Malton and Norton for 12 years.