Luxury train treat for WWII veteran's 100th birthday

Walter Skocki will travel on the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle with his daughter Julie and two other relatives.

They will board the train over a special red carpet laid across Crewe Station on Friday morning before being handed their first glass of champagne.

Then they will tuck into a slap-up Afternoon Tea as the Northern Belle meanders through some of Britain’s loveliest countryside.

During the journey, they will be serenaded by the train’s resident musicians while a conjuror wanders from table to table to add as extra touch of magic to the occasion.

Walter’s trip has been arranged for him by WiltshireFarm Foods, who fix special experience days for customers of their frozen ready meals.

They arranged for one woman to milk a cow, another to play drums with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and for someone else to go gliding.

A spokesman for the Northern Belle said: “We are delighted to welcome Walter on board to mark his 100^th birthday.

“Hopefully, he will be back again next year to celebrate clocking up 101!”

Walter, who fled his native Poland after the Germans invaded in 1939, fought for the Allies throughout the war.

He took part in the epic Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy as British and American troops bravely fought their way towards Rome.

After the war, instead of returning to Poland under Communist rule, Walter was given the choice of living in the UK, America or Canada.

He chose Britain and went on to marry and raise a family here.

The Northern Belle will call at Stoke next week to take green-fingered passengers to the famous Chelsea Flower Show.

A spokesman said of the trip on Thursday May 22: “This is always a blooming lovely day out, but it is almost sold out.” 

For more details about the Northern Belle, see www.northernbelle.co.uk