An Ashton resident has turned 100 years old and received a huge outpouring of support from the local community.

Jaroslaw Wenger was born on February 25, 1923, in Ukraine, before ending up in a British prisoner of war camp in Scotland and settling down here in the UK.

Through the skilful storytelling in his memoir ‘The Winding Path’, he addresses the many ups and downs of his life - from being forced out of his village into the German Baudienst (building service) to joining the Ukrainian Division and ending up here in the UK. Hunger, bitter cold and flea-ridden beds were mild endurances compared to the horrors he experienced.

His book is a gripping first-hand narrative of what life was really like to be a young Ukrainian solider during World War Two.

Russia invaded Ukraine the day after Jaroslaw’s 99th birthday last year. He shared that his wish is to live long enough to see this war end and see the Russian aggressor driven out of Ukraine once and for all.

Jaroslaw, who now resides at Hurst Hall Care Centre, lived to see independence in 1991 and even got the opportunity to go back to his homeland to see the village he had left many years prior.

He said he didn’t think he would ever see a war in the country again and is extremely saddened by this, but would ‘like to see the end of it’ during his lifetime.

Jaroslaw Wenger is the eldest member of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB).

Jaroslaw Wenger as a young man 

Members of the Ukrainian Centre paid him a visit in celebration of his birthday on Wednesday (1 March), along with Cllr Joyce Bowerman and members from the Rotary Club.

Petro Rewko, chairman of AUGB, said: “Jaroslaw has led a very difficult life. He’s been a member of the association from day one, I remember him from when I was a very small child - Mr Wenger was always there and always very active within our Ukrainian community.

“In his earlier years, a lot of his work was with children, with the youth, encouraging them to take on the responsibility and the Ukrainian traditions.

“He’s a very humble person, and he’s always very grateful. It is our privilege and honour to be here today, we all have the utmost respect for Mr Wenger. He’s been a tower in our community for many many years.

“He wrote his autobiography, all about the time from when he left Ukraine to when he landed here on the UK shores. It goes through the decisions he had to make, what he had to live through and situations where his life depended on a decision he made.”

Despite only having lived at the care centre for a matter of months, the staff described Jaroslaw as ‘an amazing man’ who had ‘settled in so well’.

The conservatory bore decorations of balloons and a birthday banner, accompanied by a table sat atop with numerous cards, flower bouquets and refreshments.

Emotions were high as the group shared Mr Wenger’s fourth birthday cake, while he expressed his overwhelming gratitude for all of the love and support they have provided him with.

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