A WORLD war two veteran in Okehampton, who worked with renowned plastic surgeon Dr Sir Archibald McIndoe, celebrated his 100th birthday last week. Len Irwin, a resident at Lyndridge Residential Home, spent the morning on Sunday with his daughter and son-in-law, grandson and his wife and his two great-grandchildren, Millie and Benjamin. In the afternoon Len enjoyed a birthday feast with his fellow residents and was surprised with a special cake baked by staff at the home. Len served in the war with the RAF as a medical orderly and saw much of the McIndoe work with pilots who were badly burned. McIndoe treated deep burns and serious facial disfigurement, but he also improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew members. Apart from the RAF, Len spent most of his working life as a barber for 40 years. He and his late wife moved to Okehampton seven years ago from Kent to be with their family.
