A 100-YEAR-OLD Greenock man celebrated his centenary by revealing the secret to long life — no boozing or smoking.

Bertie Hutchison was ‘buzzing’ as he marked the special milestone with delighted family, friends and staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Proud grandaughter Roxanne Bell, 31, says Bertie owes his longevity to his healthy and happy lifestyle.

She said: “He was always out the house and was also very active.

“He used to have a motorbike, a wee Honda, and was out on that all the time.

“He only gave it up when he was 80-years-old.

“Grandad has never smoked and has never drank either.” Bertie was born in Greenock on 12 January in 1914 before moving to Port Glasgow to raise his family of four children with his late wife Annie.

He served in France during the Second World War before securing a job in the Sugarhouse refinery and was later employed by Scottish Power, laying electricity cables.

He has six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Roxanne, of Wellington Street, added: “He used to stay in Kilmory Terrace, Port Glasgow, at the bottom of Clune Brae.

“We think it was all those stairs there that kept him young!

“It was only last year he stopped using them and that has definitely kept him fit.

“He’s an absolute character, he’s such an individual and I have never met anyone like him.

“I could tell you so many stories and you wouldn’t believe it — in his last home he had no gas, no hot water and no bathtub.

“It was absolutely old school.

“He just believed he didn’t need it.” Bertie — who was christened Robert — recently moved into a new flat in Greenock’s Armadale Place, where he lives with his daughter and full-time carer Ann Winslow, Roxanne’s mum.

He is currently at the Larkfield Unit after a short illness but hopes to get back home tomorrow.

Nurses put up banners and balloons to host a small party with family and friends on Sunday, and Bertie got into the spirit by wearing a specially made birthday t-shirt and badge.

Staff nurse Laura Harkins said: “Bertie is a real character and we know him well.” Roxanne added: “He was buzzing and so excited. He enjoyed himself so much.”