A VETERAN of the Second World War and a prolific goal scorer for Weymouth FC has celebrated his 90th birthday.

Jim Grimason turned 90 on Saturday June 11 and had a party to mark the milestone at the Crown Hotel in Weymouth.

He was born in Ramsgate, Kent, in 1926 and grew up in Bristol.

In the early days of the Second World War, Jim was too young to serve but in 1944 he turned 18 and was given the choice of which service he would enlist in.

He chose the Royal Navy and worked as a radio operator on troop convoys on the Atlantic and the Pacific.

For his military service he was awarded the Atlantic Star, the Pacific Star and the Second World War Medal.

Before he was demobbed in 1947, he was based on Portland and stayed to play football for Portland, Weymouth and Trowbridge.

A strong centre forward, he clocked a number of goals for all three teams before moving to London and working as a travel agent.

When he returned to Weymouth he was unable to take part in the Veterans Day Parade because he had misplaced his medals.

But last year, with the help of his nephew Alistair Small, he was given a replacement and marched in the parade for the first time.