100th birthday celebrations for former Bevin Boy in Ferndown

Alan Tootell, who was drafted as a Bevin Boy to work in a coal mine during the Second World War, celebrated his 100th birthday at Heathland House Care Home in Ferndown.

The celebrations began with the family planting a Magnolia tree in the courtyard garden at the care home. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a unique birthday cake featuring photographs from key moments throughout Alan’s life.

Nadia Greenmaidan, general manager at the care home, said: “The tree planting was especially meaningful, as it’s something Alan can always look out on and remember such a special day.”

Alan was born in 1926 in Sevenoaks and at the age of 18, was drafted as a Bevin Boy to work at Snowdown Colliery. Bevin Boys were young men conscripted to work in mines between December 1943 and March 1948 to increase the rate of coal production, which had declined through the early years of the Second World War.

Alan said: “The various personalities I met underground gave a marvellous insight into human nature.”
He said he did not regret being drafted to the mines instead of the armed services, although he later went on to join up, serving in Palestine in 1947.