A retired army officer, Second World War veteran and county cricketer has celebrated ‘100 not out’ at a Salisbury care home.
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Collyns was the centre of attention at his centenary party at Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge where he has lived since 2022.
Born into a Somerset family with a history as medical doctors, Anthony attended Marlborough College before joining the army at the age of 18.
He was commissioned into the Somerset Light Infantry in 1945, seeing active service as World War II finally came to an end and being a member of the last British regiment to march out of a newly independent India in 1948.
His service record also includes intelligence duties in post-war Germany and leading troops through the specialised jungle warfare of the Malayan Emergency.
During the late 1950s and into the 1960s, he was deployed into the complex tensions of Cyprus and the Middle East, gaining promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retiring at the age of 65 in 1981.
He then took on a series of community roles including driving for the ambulance and meals on wheels services.
A lifelong cricket fan, Anthony played for Somerset in his younger years and joined the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), headquartered at Lord’s, in 1959.
His centenary coincided with the 100th anniversary of Lord’s iconic ‘Father Time’ weathervane. The famous 6 ft 6 in cast iron installation shows a mythical figure removing the bails from a wicket to symbolise the ‘call of time’, or end of play.
In recognition of the Father Time coincidence and being such a long-serving MCC member, Anthony was invited to read the classic poem Leisure by the Welsh poet W.H. Davies for an official commemorative video.
In honour of Anthony’s military service, the Braemar Lodge celebration was attended by representatives of 5th Battalion, The Rifles, based at Bulford Camp, around ten miles north of Salisbury.
Anthony and his wife Elisabeth settled around Salisbury towards the end of his military career, bringing up their children Rosemary, Richard and Tim.
After attending the birthday party at Braemar Lodge, Rosemary said: “It was fantastic. Dad was on sparkling form.”
Asked for his secret of longevity, Anthony replied: “Luck and good health. I was lucky to travel a lot and have a good family.”
