William Tilley honoured for 90 years of service with the CLB
Major milestone comes days before Tilley's 102nd birthday
William Tilley joined the Church Lads' Brigade in April 1925. On Thursday, he was honoured for his 90th year of service.
Tilley, a Major with the group, was presented with a 90-year Gold Service Bar at a ceremony in St. John's. The award comes just a few days before his 102nd birthday.
There's no secret, it's just living day by day.- William Tilley
"I certainly enjoyed my years with the brigade," he said in a small speech at his award ceremony. "Thank you all for the time I had with the CLB."
According to a speech read out for his introduction, Tilley joined the CLB and was given regimental number 2527. In 1939, he became the Drum Major in the CLB Regimental Band, a position he held for 63 years.
According the prepared remarks, he became "one of the greatest role models for youth in the Brigades's long, renowned history."
Tilley gave a small speech where he described growing up on Plymouth Road in St. John's.
He said he grew interested in bands and brigades at a young age, and remembered as a child hearing soldiers and bands in the large field near his home.
'Just living day by day'
"Next to our house was quite a big opening. So every morning, at about half past 10, I could hear the drums," he said.
After he retired from the band, he continued working at the archives at the CLB — and helped rebuild the archives after a fire destroyed the CLB building in 1992.
"There's no secret, it's just living day by day," he told CBC News about his long life. "I guess I was a teetotaler."
"I can't imagine there'd be too many other people who are in any organization — let alone being alive — for 90 years," his son Glen Tilley added.