75 years after being in a tank in World War 2, Charlie Hammerton is still steady behind the wheel at 101 years old.
鈥淚 was in the tank corps, the loader and the radio operator,鈥� said Hammerton.
The veteran celebrated his 101st birthday Jan. 9.
Born in England, in 1920, he came to Canada with his family in 1926 to Ontario, where they were given a chunk of bush land. Eventually, the family moved to a farm before moving to the town of Haileybury, Ont.
During the war he served in France, Belgium and Holland before ending up in Germany. He returned to Ontario in 1946 to marry his wife, Violet.
鈥淲hen we moved, I was only a half a block from where my wife lived, and that鈥檚 how I met her,鈥� said Hammerton. 鈥淲hen I joined, I never gave marriage a thought, because going to war, I didn鈥檛 want to leave her a widow. When I came back, we got married. We were married for 67 years.鈥�
Hammerton鈥檚 father served in the British Army. Charlie鈥檚 eldest brother was unable to join due to coming down with an illness ahead of the war. His other brother joined at the same time, serving as an engineer.
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After receiving his discharge in 1946, he worked with the Norton Company, then in the dairy industry, before becoming an insurance agent. Eventually, he moved to Osoyoos in 1986, before moving to Penticton in 2003.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen changes, since before I moved to Osoyoos, and even since I moved to Penticton. They鈥檙e changing communities, and just last night I saw that 91大黄鸭 is the fourth fastest-growing city in Canada right now. You can鈥檛 blame them when you see what weather we鈥檝e got,鈥� Hammerton said with a laugh.
Keeping pace with a changing world, Hammerton has adapted to the digital age, using an iPad and his computer to do his banking and reading to stay up to date with the news. He also makes sure to stay physically active too.
鈥淚鈥檓 still very mobile, but I had to stop golfing two years ago, I suppose three this year,鈥� said Hammerton.
In addition to golfing, he also liked to go lawn bowling, and while he was in Osoyoos, curling. Although he doesn鈥檛 do those activities anymore, he still keeps himself moving.
鈥淚n the summertime, I love to go down to Okanagan Lake and walk around down there. Not only because it鈥檚 very pretty and nice, it鈥檚 very easy, when you get tired there鈥檚 all kinds of benches to sit down. It鈥檚 just a perfect place to go.鈥�
Hammerton is also a 65-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion where he served at times in roles as treasurer and president, and who he thanked for helping him to stay independent, a 55-year member of the Masonic Order, a volunteer for the Red Cross and he used to call out the numbers for seniors bingo in Osoyoos.
On the road to meet his friends for coffee every morning, Hammerton still passes his regular physical exams to be considered safe to drive.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any health problems. I only take two pills,鈥� said Hammerton. 鈥淎 little one in morning for my thyroid, and a blood pressure pill.鈥�
The move to B.C. was to be closer to his daughter, who lives in North Vancouver, and son, who lives in Red Deer Alberta. Violet passed away six years ago.
鈥淭he biggest change and the best change for me was when I moved to British Columbia,鈥� said Hammerton. 鈥淏.C. has been very enjoyable for me.鈥�
Hammerton insists that he has no secret to his long life, other than his family being lucky, with his eldest sister passing away at 103, his brother鈥檚 passed away at 90 and 95
鈥淢y youngest sister lives in Brampton, and she鈥檒l be 96 in April,鈥� said Hammerton. 鈥淚 had an aunt in England who lived to 105. It鈥檚 what they call the genes, don鈥檛 ask me what that is.
I always say, I鈥檝e been a very lucky man. I always say, it鈥檚 alright living a long life, if you can keep your health, and you can enjoy the life as much as possible.鈥�
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