A CENTENARIAN with a love of food says he has stayed healthy even after “eating all the wrong things”.

Dargan Sidgwick celebrated his 100th birthday with friends, family and carers at the Down Hall residential home in Bradwell.

He was even treated to his favourite tipple of whisky.

His family put his longevity down to genetics and an active life, as he is known for his love of eating and drinking.

Home manager Karen Johnson said: “Mr Sidgwick is a well-known gentleman within the Bradwell community, has a lot of friends and a large family.

“He celebrated his special day with an afternoon tea party and his favourite tipple of whisky.”

Born on June 1, 1919, he lived in Plaistow and Upminster in his early life.

He worked with his father in ship repair on the Thames docks.

He and his wife Dorothy had a honeymoon in Blackpool and were together for 76 years before she died in 2016.

He had three sons with her and youngest Peter, now 70, of Marlborough Road, Tillingham, said he led a very varied life. Peter said: “He was a little bit of a Del Boy, he was always looking for something to do.

“He ended up the managing director of Thames Welding and working in London, Tilbury and Felixstowe.

“He was also a founding member and commodore of the Bradwell Quay Yacht Club.

“In his spare time he built houses. From his retirement, him and mum were busy right until the end. If we had to describe his life, we would say he spent a lot of time trying to make money and never did.”

When asked about his secret to long life, Peter concluded it was genetics.

He said: “This is the amazing thing, his diet wasn’t the best.

“He used to drink for England, and he loved his scotch. He also used to smoke too.

“He and mum used to live life to the full – they ate full-fat cream, butter and bacon.

“It was all the stuff we consider bad today, but I think it’s basically down to genetics and him keeping busy trying to earn money.

“He was never into sports - he thought it was a waste of time you could use to apply yourself to other things.

“When he went into the care home last year, they took him to the hospital to do a check-up and they said his liver is perfect. Me and my brothers are scared we’ll meet him in the care home when we go in there.”