Jim Hayward dancing at his party. ‘Being 100 is exciting,’ he says

A MAN born at the end of World War I who credits his long life to daily walks to a Clerkenwell day centre celebrated entering his next century on Friday – with a birthday party at the centre.

St Luke’s Community Centre hosted Jim Hayward’s 100th birthday party with a giant sponge cake and a DJ set with classics chosen by centre users.

At the party, Jim showed off a signed letter from the Queen wishing him well on the special occasion.

Jim, who has bought daily lunches at the centre in Central Street for 10 years, said: “The centre helps me keep young. It gets me out of the house. I walk from the bus stop and always have a nice lunch. It’s the walk, it’s better than nothing.”

Jim with his message from the Queen

Jim, who worked on north London buses for more than 40 years, gets the number 394 from his house off Hoxton Street to a bus stop in City Road, then walks nearly half a mile to get his lunch.

Following the death of his wife Freda, Jim lives on his own in the flat where he has been since 1953. He doesn’t have a carer.

“I do my own shopping at Sainsbury’s in Angel and an Iceland right by my house,” he said. “I get fresh vegetables from shops down Old Street too.”

Jim keeps in touch with friends and family through his Facebook account, where he posts status updates about his life.

His last post yesterday (Thursday) read: “Hello everybody. Just to tell you that I am alive and well. I have the last stage of a cold and a touch of partyitis.”

He owns a mobile phone and has an email account he uses to exchange photos with friends.

Jim with the Mayor Una O’Halloran

“Everyone always asks me what’s the secret to long life but I don’t know,” he said.

“I’m feeling beautiful, I have no worries and no pains. Being 100 is exciting.”

“I also have my girlfriends,” he added. They are Laetitia Desmoulins, 30, and Emilia Leese, 46, who were there to celebrate the birthday.

They first met Jim more than five years ago while volunteering at another day centre off Old Street.

Ms Desmoulins, a teacher who lives in France but was staying with Jim for two weeks, said: “For me he is a master. He gives you life lessons in a very respectful and gentle way. When you speak to him you can see how open he is.”

On Sunday, his actual birthday, Jim celebrated with his grandchildren and Ms Desmoulins, who took him to the Criterion Theatre in the West End to see The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.

“I love musical theatre especially. It was very good. I picked up my grandchildren from Victoria Station as they live in Hertfordshire. I took them on the 38 bus,” he said.