A DANCE-loving Barnoldswick man celebrated his 100th birthday in style.

Arthur Aldersley danced the afternoon away yesterday with a party to mark his centenary, attended by family and friends.

“He goes dancing every week and dancing is a big part of dad’s life,” said Arthur’s daughter, Margaret Berry, of Leicestershire. “Seeing that he’s 100, it’s quite a milestone and he’s still dancing, so we thought we’d hold the party where he dances at the Civic Hall."

“I think dancing is what’s kept him going all these years,” she added. “It’s good exercise for an older person.”

Arthur is one of four siblings. His two older sisters have passed away, but his younger brother, Edward, of Earby, was one of the many guests to attend his party, along with Margaret and his other daughter, Kathleen Pickles, of Barnoldswick.

Arthur, who was born in Earby, married Gladys in 1940.

A joiner by trade, Arthur was in a reserved occupation during the Second World War, when he worked in a munitions factory and was also a bomb clearance specialist.

After the conflict, he worked as a joiner at Briggs and Duxbury in Barnoldswick and later became a foreman joiner at Rolls-Royce. He retired in 1981.

After his wife died in 1986, he become good friends with Elsie Windle, who also lost her partner at a similar time.

“Mum and dad were talented ballroom dancers, but Elsie and he danced together for many years until she died about four years ago,” said Margaret.