A SECOND World War veteran received a surprise package to mark his 90th birthday from Blackburn brewery Thwaites.

Ron Marlow, who celebrated his 90th birthday on November 10, was presented with a personalised supply of the award-winning chestnut ale Lancaster Bomber featuring him in his uniform on the specially designed bottle label.

Ron was a rear end gunner or ‘tail end Charlie’ in 50 Squadron and took part in 38 Lancaster Bomber missions.

He has two daughters, six grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren.

Thwaites provided two packs of the personalised Lancaster Bomber as a surprise after Ron’s daughter, Pat, who had arranged a 90th birthday celebration for Ron, wrote to Thwaites to proudly inform them of her father’s achievements.

Ron’s daughter Pat Darby, said: “I wanted to do something special for dad and we decided to have a 90th birthday celebration for him and with his birthday being the day before Remembrance Day, this seemed all the more appropriate.

"I wrote to Thwaites and sent them some wartime photos as I’d seen Lancaster Bomber ale and previously bought some for dad.

"I just thought it was a nice local link and that Thwaites would like to know that there are brave Lancaster Bomber lads still alive and well. "

Des Gallagher, of Thwaites’ Lancaster Bomber ,said: “This has been a very special year for the historic Lancaster Bomber aircraft which has seen the only two remaining flying aircraft appear for the very last time at shows throughout the summer.

"To be able to support surviving pilots of World War II such as Ron is a great honour so when we received the letter from his daughter we came up with the idea of producing a commemorative label and providing bottles of Lancaster Bomber ale for the 90th birthday party. "