Lifelong bachelor says not getting married is the secret of his longeavity

IT’S a longer life without a wife – according to bachelor

Nevol Robarts-Arnold, who celebrated his 100th birthday at Seaton yesterday (Sunday).

A card from the Queen and a party with family and friends were the highlight of the former bank worker’s special day at his home in Old Beer Road.

Nevol spent most of his working life with the NatWest, although this was interrupted by service with the RAF during the war.

He continued with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for many years after the conflict, but when he retired from the bank he studied for a degree in geology and enjoyed travel all over the world on field trips.

He moved to Seaton in 1970 to look after his ageing parents, and when they passed on he moved to Exmouth. Nevol looked after himself in his spacious flat there until earlier this year when he was persuaded to return to Seaton and share the house on Old Beer Road with his niece, Jane Spratt.

Nevol never married, which he claims explains his longevity, but was involved with, and constantly surrounded by, his family and was very often a helping hand in times of need. Relations from far and wide joined Nevol for his big day and the house was adorned with decorations, cards and boxes of chocolates, to which he admits an addiction.