A FORMER headteacher and mayor of Teignmouth who recently celebrated his 100th birthday says a job you love and marrying the right woman is the key to a long life.

Don Tracey became Teignmouth’s latest centenarian on Saturday, January 25.

‘It is one of those things, you don't say “well, I am going to live to 100”, it just happens’ Don said.

‘It is a peculiar business, when I was young everybody died at 70, it has gradually increased over the years, but now it seems to be going the other way for some reason, probably too much beer or gin!’ he added.

‘There is no question, if you do enjoy what you are doing it makes a hell of a difference’ Don said.

The former town and district councillor was joined by close to 40 members of his family for the special occasion: children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

‘People say to me, “how have you lived so long?”, and I say, do a job you love and marry the right woman - do that and you stand a good chance’ Don said.

Don was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, but at just six-months-old the family moved to London.

The family lived in various parts of the capital city over the years, mostly in Harrow.

‘I got a scholarship from the local school, it was a grammar school - you had to be in the top twelve to get it’ Don said

‘Interestingly enough, I don't think it was a good thing, if I hadn't of got it, my parents couldn't have paid - it was £5 a term!

‘I was a fish out of water really, being taught Latin and French, but at home he didn't even have a book in the house’ he added.

And at 18 and a quarter years old, Don joined the navy; toward the end of his time in the military Don found himself in Sri Lanka.

‘They were looking for teachers, and I thought I can have a go at that’ Don said.

This became Don’s long career in education, serving as headteacher at schools in Singapore and Germany before he retuned to the UK in 1970 when he became the headteacher of Exeter’s Ladysmith school.

Don spent 17 years at Ladysmith, before retiring in 1987.

And having retired from teaching, there was only one thing to do - enter the world of politics.

Having lived in Teignmouth since 1981, Don sat on both Teignmouth Town Council and Teignbridge District Council, serving as the former’s mayor in 1996 and the latter’s Chairman in 2000 and 2001.

‘Interesting enough, when I went on to Teignbridge, I was made Chairman of Works and Services and my job was to introduce the green bin to the people of Teignbridge‘ Don said.

‘I am sure some people loved it and some people thought it was the worst thing to ever happen’ he added.

‘I promised my wife I would give up when I was 80-years-old.

Don was married to his childhood sweetheart, Hazel, who went by Dianna, for more than 70 years before she passed away in 2019.