Burntwood man celebrates 102nd birthday
Bernhard Mills was born in Chase Terrace, 23 March 1923, and has lived in Burntwood all his life.
A surprise party was thrown for him at his Church, St Joseph’s Burntwood, where he was presented with 102 birthday cards, all made by the children of St Joseph and St Theresa’s School in Chasetown.
Bernhard has cards from King Charles, The Pope and Cardinal Vincent Nichols, but he said he was overwhelmed by the 102 cards from the school children.
He is a competent musician, and is probably the oldest man to be playing the pedal steel guitar.
In the past he performed in countless local venues, like the Tropicana in Wolverhampton, and in 1947 he was a finalist in the Carol Lewis discoveries show, at the Palace Hotel in London.
Remarkably he still lives alone, cooks and cleans for himself, and enjoys socialising with friends in local cafés and lunch clubs.
He never misses a weekend Mass, and attends weekday services at his church during the week.
He is revered in the community, and is famed for his sense of humour.
