Reading the papers every day is the key to a long and happy life, according to one centenarian.

Maurice Gordon, who lives in Jewish Care’s Lady Sarah Cohen House, in Friern Barnet, celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by his wife, his two daughters Anne and Helen and his granddaughter, Sarah Katz.

Mr Gordon was born on January 27, 1915 and he and his wife, Muriel, have been married for 61 years. They have lived in neighbouring rooms at the care home for the past three years.

The grandfather has seen many changes over the years, and has fond memories of growing up in Stepney, where his family used an outdoor cold tap and went to a public bathhouse once a week.

As a teenager, he became more involved in politics because of pre-war tensions and because he was working class, he believed in equality and the unions.

He said: “During the 1930’s there were fights in the streets of the East End which the fascists started when they attacked Jewish boys in the street.

“I became an activist, going on Labour Party and anti-fascist marches in London in those times.”

Mr Gordon went on the play an important part in history as part of the D-Day landings. On June 6, 1944 he was serving in the 2nd Battalion in the Hertfordshire regiment and landed on Gold Beach, Normandy.

But in August 1944, he was badly wounded in a mortar attack during the battle of Falaise and spent ten months in hospital recovering from his injuries.

Mr Gordon and his wife are the only married couple in the home. They met through family friends and married on September 5, 1954 in Shackwell Lane Synagogue, East London.

They lived in Stoke Newington where they enjoyed going dancing at The Royal before moving to Muswell Hill in 1962, where Mr Gordon joined his father working at a ladies clothing factory.

When Mr Gordon retired at 70, he helped his wife running her small antiques shop.

Both were keen bridge players and after Muriel, now 89, moved to the home in 2007, her husband joined her three years later.

The tea party was organised by Jewish Care and included a sing along around the piano to songs from the war years. 

Brigadier General, Martin Russell, The Queen’s representative, presented Mr Gordon with a birthday card from Buckingham Palace. 

Mr Gordon said: “I don’t know what the secret to a long life is but until a few years ago I took a walk every day and have always eaten a very healthy diet.

“I have read the papers every day all my life and when I was 94 and a patient at the Whittington Hospital the nurses said I was the oldest Financial Times reader they had ever seen.

“I’ve had a wonderful time celebrating and want to thank everybody for such a lovely party.”