Royal Navy veteran to be given special video gift for 95th birthday celebrations

Max Robins is set to celebrate this milestone birthday tomorrow in his Bury care home very differently due to Covid-19 - so a family friend has worked hard to make it as special as possible.

Sam Spencer, whose mum is friends with Max’s daughter Del, decided to get friends and colleagues involved with making video messages for Max.

Sam, who is based at HMS Collingwood in Fareham as a petty officer in the Royal Navy Police, also arranged a birthday card, which friends and colleagues signed, and she framed some petty officer’s badges to mark the occasion.

Del was absolutely thrilled, and said: ‘The videos are wonderful, I was in tears watching them because of the trouble [Sam has] gone to for dad and really honouring him this way.’

Max was conscripted into the forces at the age of 18 in 1943, where he volunteered for Navy Medical in June that year, and joined the navy in July.

He was sent to Skegness, and was drafted to the Fleet Air Arm, moving around UK bases. In September 1945 he sailed for Australia from Liverpool on troop ship Dominion Monarch, arriving in Sydney in October.

A football knee injury sustained during his time stationed in Padstow required surgery, and he left hospital in December 1945.

On returning to work in January 1946 Max was redrafted to HMS Glory, and Max travelled throughout the far east including seeing the devastation at Hiroshima.

The ship arrived back in Plymouth in October and was demobilised in November. On leaving the service Max qualified as a chartered surveyor, estate agent and valuer.

Max was married to Bunny for 50 years. He has one daughter, Del, who is married to Andy. He also has a granddaughter, Suzie, a grandson Joe, married to Steph and a great grandson, Moses who is six months old.

On her decision to help make Max’s birthday special, Sam said: ‘It’s been a pleasure to help bring some happiness to Max and try to give him a memorable birthday as best we can given the current circumstances.’

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