'Old master' celebrates 103rd birthday (From Oxford Mail)

'Old master' celebrates 103rd birthday

9:30am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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A GREAT-grandfather, former school master and talented painter has celebrated his 103rd birthday.

Maurice Draper marked the big day, yesterday, with a quiet lunch surrounded by family and friends at Lake House care home in Adderbury.

Mr Draper was a master at Banbury Grammar School from 1945 until the late 1960s, where he taught chemistry.

His son John visited from his home in Chester yesterday and said his father had always loved north Oxfordshire. He said: “When it became clear my father needed care, we thought about moving him to be closer to us. But he loves this area and is very well known in the community, with lots of his former pupils still living nearby. This is his home.” Mr Draper has another son, Nicholas, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife, Cicely, died in 1996.

Mr Draper is a talented painter, known for his watercolours depicting the area, some of which hang in Banbury Museum and said he did not want any fuss for his big day. More birthday celebrations and anniversaries on page 41