Ben Affleck MBE, is celebrating his 100th birthday with a slow drive-by along his street.
Ben Affleck MBE came to Milton Keynes in 1970 to be Director for Housing for the newly-formed Development Corporation. The corporation was tasked with organising tens of thousands of homes for Milton Keynes residents.
In the 1980s Mr Affleck, who lives on Bancroft, received an MBE for his work setting up the National Mobility Scheme.
He has been involved in voluntary work throughout his life. In Milton Keynes he was involved with The Stables, starting out as a car park attendant and worked his way up to being the chairman of the committee. He also remains the founder member of MK Macular Society.
His rotarian colleague Carol Barker said: "Up to a couple of years ago he was always involved in helping the community, like the lend-a-hand day with Age Concern and MK Rotary, doing practical jobs such as cleaning windows and gardening for the disabled and elderly in Milton Keynes."
Born in Manchester and brought up in Rotherham, at 17, Ben joined the Home Guard, he tried to get into the RAF as a pilot but failed the eyesight test and became a morse code operator and cathode ray wireless operator working out of a tramshed in Blackpool.
He was posted to the Shetland Islands where using morse code he directed flying boats, from Sunderlands to Catalinas. He spent some time in Northern Ireland before being transferred to Cornwall continuing to train people to become wireless operators.
His career in housing began as a housing manager in Cannock, Staffordshire in a mining community where he also became involved in charity work.
After 10 years in Cannock he spent 10 years as a Housing Manager in the Borough of Solihull expanding his knowledge and experience before a friend encouraged him to apply for a new job in Milton Keynes.
He got the job and set up the Housing Department and became part of the Executive Management Committee. Mr Affleck took his retirement at 60 under civil service rules and took on the role setting up the National Mobility Scheme.
Ben became more involved in voluntary work in 1978 and along with others formed the Rotary Club of Milton Keynes.
© MKFM News 2020
