100 today for one of Evesham's oldest (From Evesham Journal)

100 today for one of Evesham's oldest

9:53am Wednesday 10th March 2010

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A VALE man will be receiving a letter from the Queen this week after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Norman Belham, who turns 100 today, will mark the occasion surrounded by his friends and family at Briarlea Residential Home, on Badsey Road.

Like others of his generation, Norman’s father died during military service in 1914 leaving his mother to bring him up alone and with little money in Streatham, south London, where he was born.

But having been encouraged at a young age to enjoy algebra as a problem solving game he managed to get a foothold in education and went on to read physics at King’s College, London, on the condition that he promised to be a teacher.

As a specialist physics and maths teacher during the Second World War, Norman was seconded to the radar establishment in Malvern where he played a part in the development and application of wartime radar equipment.

After the war he returned to teaching and helped to inspire many youngsters at local schools, including County High School in Redditch and Worcester Grammar School for Girls, before retiring to Badsey.

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