A GREAT-grandfather and former prisoner of war believes reaching 100 is down to a good Sicilian stew, red wine, and olive oil.

John Barresi, of Calves Close, Kidlington, celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at Kidlington Football Club, in Yarnton Road, yesterday.

Surrounded by six of his seven children, 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren Mr Barresi swore by the health-giving properties of Sicilian fare.

Born on Christmas Day 1909, in Alcamo, Sicily, the former soldier was taken as a prisoner of war by the British Army in 1944 and moved to Newcastle.

From Newcastle he was taken to Llandyssil in Powys, Mid-Wales, where he met his wife Mary-Catharine, who died 17 years ago.

The couple moved with their children, Francesca, Zina, Joy, Nina, Salvatore, John, and Mary to Oxford in 1965. Mr Barresi worked at Morris Motors, in Cowley, until his retirement.

When asked the secret to his youthful appearance, Mr Barresi answered: “Good food and drink. Pasta, red wine, stew, and a drop of good olive oil.”

He added: “I have had a very nice day. It is nice for all of my family, all the ages, to be here with me.”

About 150 of Mr Barresi’s family, who now live around Abingdon, Oxford and Kidlington, were also at the party. According to his children the recent snow has not fazed their father, who remembers conditions much worse during the winter of 1948, when blizzards covered much of England.

Francesca Haley, 60, his eldest daughter, said the 100-year-old even cleared his own path with a shovel after last Tuesday night’s blizzards.

She said: “When he came to Oxford he remembers helping the council to clear the roads and paths so people could get to their houses.

“It was much, much worse back then.”

Mr Barresi did not receive a card from the Queen because he never officially registered as a British citizen, but he did receive one from the Houses of Parliament, which his children said he was very pleased with.