A FORMER Malvern resident has been celebrating a milestone birthday.

Reg Hiles celebrated the birthday with a surprise party for four generations of family and friends at Mount Pleasant Hotel, in the town.

Mr Hiles was born at Morgan Villas in Newtown Road on May 17, 1926, the son of Harry and Lucy Hiles.

He joined the Royal Navy in the Second World War, by pretending to be older than he was.

While on leave he met Ena, who he went on to marry, and the couple had a son, Melvyn - who was born while Mr Hiles was serving with the Navy in Japan.

When he left the Navy, the couple returned to Malvern where Mr Hiles started working for the former Midland Red bus company as a conductor.

He later changed his job and began working at Safe Way, the slab makers in Pickersleigh Road, before moving on to Kennings, the motorway service station at Strensham.

In 1955 he became a father again with the birth of daughter Julie.

Mr Hiles eventually left Malvern when he became manager at a service station in Lancashire, and today lives in Telford.

Mr Hiles, who shares the year of his birth with the Queen, said he was pleased to be back in Malvern for the party and to see his home town again.