A Dunkirk war veteran who went on to become a Cornish brass band legend is turning 100 years today.

Eric Taylor, from Helston, was just 19 when he was captured in France with the Royal Norfolk Regiment, while defending the get-away at Dunkirk.

His regiment became detached from those evacuated at Dunkirk and joined the Scottish 51st Highland Division and as they were pushed back to the coast at St Valery en Caux.

A week after Dunkirk the French forces surrendered and the remaining forces were captured and became prisoners of war.

He was then marched to Poland and five years as a German prisoner of war, before being marched back in 1945 when America released them from the German army.

Eric was later awarded the British Empire Medal for his services and featured in the Channel 4 documentary Dunkirk – The Forgotten Heroes, which was recently shown again on TV with the 80th anniversary of Dunkirk.

Falmouth Packet:

He went on to become a St Keverne Brass Band legend, playing the B-flat bass from 1950 onwards and in more recent years conducing the training band, teaching hundreds of children over the years and only giving it up in the last four or five years.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions his family, including son Bruce Taylor, a well known Helston estate agent, and grandson Sean Johnston, a partner with Truro estate agents Philip Martin, have been forced to cancel most of their plans to celebrate the landmark birthday.

It has also meant he was unable to attend the VE Day celebrations in London or a Buckingham Palace garden party.

However, the family has arranged two hours of "drive by" celebrations today, with a few special surprises, to still mark the occasion.

Between 2pm and 3pm on June 23, and again between 5pm and 6pm, people are encouraged to drive or walk by Eric's home in Church Hill to wave, beep their horns or stop for a socially distanced chat at the end of the garden.

The family also hope people will send cards, which can be dropped in a special 'post box' in his front garden. To get the address email Bruce via taylorsbdm@hotmail.com or sjohnston@philip-martin.co.uk