Still soaring: RAF veteran celebrates 103 years at Bristol care home

Badminton Place, which is a part of Berkley Care Group, hosted a birthday celebration for Eric Lloyd, MBE, which brought together residents, staff, and family to pay tribute to a life well-lived and a century of dedication and service.

Born on January 30, 1922, Eric joined the RAF as a Halton apprentice just before his 15th birthday, beginning a prestigious career in aircraft engineering.

His service during the Second World War took him to Sudan, and he continued serving until 1948, eventually rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. In recognition of his invaluable “services to the RAF”, Eric was awarded the MBE in 1970.

Eric’s expertise spanned a range of aircraft, including the V-Force, Venoms, Vampires, Victors, Hercules, and the Valiant. His dedication also saw him work on the Flying Boats at Pembroke Docks in Wales during the 1950s and serve as a plane observer aboard the renowned “Heart” aircraft.

His career took him, his wife Pearl as well as their three children, Stephen, Grahame, and Susan, across RAF stations in Wales, Northern Ireland, England, Germany, and Singapore. After retiring in 1985, following 47 years of service, Eric continued contributing his expertise with the Ministry of Defence in Andover for another decade.

Following the passing of his beloved wife Pearl in 2003, Eric relocated to Chipping Sodbury in 2015 and now calls Badminton Place his home. A proud grandfather and great-grandfather, Eric remains spirited and resilient.

To mark this extraordinary milestone, ex-veteran SAC Anthony Peters, representing the Royal Air Force Veterans Association and the Royal British Legion, visited Badminton Place to honour Eric’s lifetime of service.

Commenting on the celebrations, Angela Madden, General Manager at Badminton Place, said: “It is an absolute honour, joy, and pleasure that Eric has chosen to live with us at Badminton Place. I’d just like to give a massive thank you to the hospitality, chef and kitchen team and all the carers and staff at Badminton for marking the day and helping make it so special.

“Eric is respected by every single member of the team, and we all learn something new every day from him due to his rich life experience. His wisdom, warmth, and remarkable stories of a life well-lived continue to enrich our home. Eric embodies the spirit of community and connection that we cherish at Badminton Place.”