A POPULAR pensioner is celebrating his 90th birthday in style this morning at the same golf course he has played at for 30 years.

Stan Suggate - who has been a familiar face at Wanstead Golf Club for the past three decades - is marking the landmark with a specially organised golf tournament at the club, surrounded by friends and family.

Mr Suggate, who lives in New Road, Chingford, put his good health down to drinking in moderation, not smoking, and, of course, golf.

“When you play a game of golf you have to walk three or four miles everytime and no game is ever the same. There’s always a need to do better than you did last time,” he said.

“It’s so easy to sit down and watch telly at home, but it’s a sport that makes you want to get out of the house and play.

“The golf course in Wanstead is very suitable for me, it’s not a very hilly course like many around here, and if anyone wants to learn to play golf it’s ideal.

“It’s a game worth playing and it’s a game worth enjoying.”

Before retiring Mr Suggate worked as the head of the Co-Op’s milk operation in London, which put him in charge of 3,000 staff and an annual turnover of £56 million.

And life is almost as busy for Mr Suggate now. Not only is he president of the club’s veteran section, but he also heads north east London’s 54th Golfing Society.

The society was first set-up by former members of the 54th company of the local home guard at the end of World War Two, to ensure they would still stay in touch despite their unit being disbanded.

Fellow veteran member Derek Stew, 64, said Mr Suggate was an inspiration.

He said: “He is quite a remarkable person, and certainly has a distinguished presence at the club.

“For all the 50 and 60-year-old members he’s definitely someone everyone would like to aspire to.

“He’s a credit to Wanstead Golf Club.”