A local war veteran has been hailed for his “illustrious military career” after celebrating his 106th birthday.
The deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Tanya Stirling, congratulated Norman Irwin after he was welcomed as the guest of honour at a special reception this week.
Friends and family gathered to celebrate the much-loved centenarian whose birthday was on November 17.
Ms Stirling said: “It is hard to put into words the contribution that Norman Irwin has made to society during his 106 years – he is an inspiration to all of us.
“I was honoured to meet him and to host a reception for his milestone birthday. Norman is a role model within our community, with impeccably high standards and a fantastic attitude to life. We are all very proud of Norman and send him the very best of wishes on his birthday week.”
Norman, a Second World War veteran and holder of Freedom of the Borough bestowed in 1989 from what was then Coleraine Borough Council, had an illustrious military career spanning many years.
In 2020, he was presented with a commemorative silver Poppy of Remembrance as one of the few remaining Second World War veterans living in the borough.
His support was invaluable to the council when hosting the exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War in 2015, which included the Coleraine Battery Collection.
In January 2021, aged 102, he took part in a local PR campaign on the roll-out of the Covid vaccine.
Ms Stirling added: “While it is impossible to measure the impact of Norman’s public appeal, he is an inspiration to all and a fantastic example of the important role that older people can play within the community, and we are very proud of him.”