Turning 100 with a belly dancer and WW2 jeep

What do you get someone who reaches their century milestone? A belly dance and a ride in a WW2 jeep, of course.

Colin Bargh is described as a “true gent with a lovely sense of humour” by care staff at Riverdale Care Home in Chesterfield, and they wanted the RAF veteran’s big day to be special.

Colin said he liked to "do these things to keep the kids out of trouble" referring to his fellow care home residents.

After the belly dancing performance, his son, Ian Bargh, said: “She was excellent, it was very good indeed. My dad enjoyed it, he's always enjoyed anything with girls like that, he loves it.”

Colin grew up in Spital, Derbyshire, and ran a bicycle shop next door to the first Burton's menswear store in Chesterfield.

He went on to join the RAF as a military police officer before retraining as a secondary school teacher.

Colin moved into the care home just over a year ago, and for his 99th birthday was treated to a ride in the back of a police car.

He told carers he had never been arrested and wanted to have that experience, which they arranged for him in a collaboration with Derbyshire Police that saw him driven around Chesterfield with the blue lights on.

In a similarly unconventional celebration for his centenary, Julia Bisby, from Taste of Cairo, performed various dances for Colin, his family and his neighbouring residents to create a memorable birthday.

Julia said she specifically asks to play care home gigs because the residents give her such a good reception and often want to join in the dancing.

"I love them so much. It's the interaction with the residents, seeing the joy and just being able to share my love of dance and the music," she said.

The festivities continued in the afternoon, when members of the Royal Air Force Military Police took the veteran for a ride in a World War Two jeep.

His daughter, Pat Walker, said she was "very happy" with the care her dad had received at the home and thanked the staff for going the extra mile to make his birthday special.

"They're very caring and give him lots of fun by organising things like this," she said.

Wendy Perkins, activities co-ordinator for the home, had also collected dozens of birthday cards from local primary school children and neighbours of the home, wishing Colin well.

His son and daughter told the BBC they were convinced the secret to their dad's long and happy life was "having well behaved children".

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