Retired dairy farmer Fred Brown got a bird’s eye view of his beloved Wiltshire as part of the celebrations to mark his forthcoming 100th birthday.

Mr Brown, of Knowledge Crescent in Ramsbury, is a member of the village’s Royal British Legion and the club organised plane flight after asking him what he would like to do to mark his centenary – which he will celebrate on November 21.

He said: “It’s just something I’ve never done before. I’ve been up in a balloon before but I’ve never been up in an aeroplane like that, I’ve been in the big ones but not a little one.

“It was lovely. It was a nice smooth ride.”

Pilot Graham Cherrington took Mr Brown on a tour of Wiltshire, taking off from Oaksey Airfield and flying over some of the places where the soon-to-be centenarian spent his farming youth, including Avebury, Crooked Soley, Lyneham and Wanborough.

He was joined on the flight by Ramsbury Royal British Legion chairman Dave Smeeth who helped organise the flight.

He said: “When we were up there he was picking out places that he knew and where he lived and the church.

“We didn’t know if he was enjoying it but when he got down he said that it was the best thing.

“He clearly enjoyed the day as he has not stopped talking about it since.

“Fred is a true inspiration and still works in his garden and takes an active part in the Royal British Legion club.”

The day was finished off with lunch at the Old Boathouse at the Cotswold Water Park.

This isn’t the first time Mr Brown has taken to the skies, when he was 96 went in a hot air balloon from Ramsbury Sports Field with 16 villagers, making him the oldest passenger the company had ever taken.

Mr Brown, who lives with his 78-year-old son Mick, doesn’t believe there is a secret to long life and said that he is just lucky.