Happy 100th Birthday

[Kyt]

Happy (belated) 100th Birthday, Roy Blake:

http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/49179

2nd October 2007

A LIFELONG passion for football still keeps 99-year-old Roy Blake’s heart ticking as he continues to barrack for the only team he’s ever supported – the Western Bulldogs.

Roy, who celebrates his 100th birthday on 13 October, has spent most of his life in Footscray and Sunshine playing a couple of games with the Footscray (Victorian Football Association) seconds, helping with the formation of the Kingsville Football Club – now Yarraville Seddon Eagles, coaching former South Melbourne player Monty Beers, and watching many games.

His sons Arthur and Noel recall going to games with their father where the crowd would be shoulder to shoulder.

Noel and Arthur said once the game started the crowd would form an ample circle around their father, as he was known for getting excited during matches and jumping up and down, waving his arms.

These days, Roy is excited about the letters about to arrive in the mail — one from the Queen and one from Prime Minister John Howard.

These letters will join those from the Prime Minister and Governor-General from Roy and wife Coral’s 50th and subsequent wedding anniversaries, along with the letter from the Queen for their 60th anniversary.

Roy and Coral married in 1928 at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Kingsville and shared 67 years together before Coral died in 1995.

“My wife was my life,” Roy said with tears in his eyes.

“Everything we done, we done together.

“I remember everything of her. I can still see her coming through that doorway,” he said.

Roy and Coral had three children, Noel, Arthur and Coral, along with four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

“We were both bowls fanatics,” Roy said.

He said played bowls for more than 30 years, with himself and Coral winning championships and going on bowls tours around Australia.

Not only did the couple share a passion for bowls, they were both hairdressers.

Roy started his first job as a lather-up boy while still at school in Footscray, became an apprentice to Fred Cheney for two years and three years under Frank Glasson.

He was a hairdresser in Hampshire Rd, Sunshine, until World War II, when he signed up with the RAAF at the age of 35 to avoid being conscripted into the army.

Roy had previously been a National Serviceman from 1925-28 as a light horseman at Albert Park.

His RAAF career as a leading aircraftsman took him to Borneo, where he helped rescue a pilot under fire and narrowly avoided going into Japan as the war in Asia came to an end.

After the war, Roy built a hairdresser’s shop in Station Place, Sunshine, which he operated until his retirement in 1970.

Over the years, Roy was also a member of the RSL, Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years, Footscray Swimming Club committee, Footscray Harriers Committee and the Sunshine Football Club.

His family will join him at the Benlynne Park Nursing Home, where he has lived since he was 98, on his birthday.

One of those relatives will be Roy’s great-grandson, who will celebrate his second birthday on the same day.

Service Record
Name BLAKE, ROY FRANCIS
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 54694
Date of Birth 13 Oct 1907
Place of Birth RUSHWORTH, VIC
Date of Enlistment 29 Apr 1942
Locality on Enlistment SUNSHINE
Place of Enlistment MELBOURNE, VIC
Next of Kin BLAKE, CORAL
Date of Discharge 20 Feb 1946
Rank Leading Aircraftman
Posting at Discharge 4 SQUADRON
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
Prisoner of War No