A 100-year-old Basingstoke resident said the secret to a long life is to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

When asked what his secret was to living a long life, Lewis Light said: “Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

The Dashwood Manor care home resident provided the wisdom during his birthday celebrations on Friday, June 28.

Born in 1924, Lewis was the youngest of seven children and was born on the day his family moved house.

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Lewis LightLewis Light (Image: Care UK)

At 16, he became an engineering apprentice with aircraft manufacturing company AV Roe, a job that laid the foundation for his time working with a team of engineers throughout the Second World War.

Soon after the war, he met his late wife, Audrey, and the couple got married in 1946. Shortly after, Lewis was conscripted into the army.

The couple enjoyed 50 years together before Audrey’s passing in 1997.

Lewis has a son and a daughter - David and Susan - as well as four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life, he has always loved the fresh air of the seaside and enjoyed boat trips on the canal.

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Lewis Light went bowling for his 100th birthdayLewis Light went bowling for his 100th birthday (Image: Care UK)

A keen explorer, he used to go caravanning every weekend with his mother as a child and had a motorbike in his 20s.

To commemorate his milestone birthday, the Dashwood Manor team arranged a bowling day out for him, honouring his life-long passion for the sport.

Dil Perera, home manager at Dashwood Manor, described Lewis as a "much-loved resident".

He said: "We were so excited to celebrate such a joyous day with Lewis. It was amazing to mark this tremendous milestone with him and hear his very good advice for living a long and happy life.

“Here at Dashwood Manor, we centre everything we do around our ethos of ensuring residents live active and fulfilling lives – and Lewis’ 100th birthday celebration was no exception. It was lovely to see how happy he was to be surrounded by those closest to him on the day.”