A 99-year-old man who is due to celebrate his 100th birthday next week has revealed the heartwarming reason why he has been visiting the same cafe every day for 15 years.

Ken Swinson, 99, is an engineer who spent most of his life in Denham before moving to Gerrards Cross 40 years ago.

He and his wife, Kath, were regular customers at Fego's cafe in Gerrards Cross until her multiple sclerosis meant she had to enter a care home five years ago.

She sadly passed away at the end of last year, but Ken has kept up their tradition of going to Fego's daily for lunch and has become a beloved familiar face among the staff.

One server said: "Ken is one of our longest established regulars and comes in everyday, rain or shine. We all consider him to be part of the Fego's family."

Ken and Kath began their daily pilgrimage to Fego's, on Packhorse Road in Gerrards Cross, when the cafe opened in 2007.

Now Ken either travels down on his mobility scooter or gets a lift from family or friends to continue eating lunch at the cafe everyday.

Looking ahead to his 100th birthday on Tuesday, May 2, Ken credits this willingness to stay active for his longevity and says what he likes best about the staff at Fego's is that "they don't sit around - they'll always be doing things which is very good indeed."

Born in 1923, he was an engineer for half his life, qualifying as a European Engineer, the highest accolade in the profession, as well as a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Ken met Kath at a pub dance night and they were married for 71 years before she passed away at 93-years-old last year. 

"Kath really liked wordsearches - when she was active she'd always be doing them. It was hard in the end, though. I'd visit her and she just wouldn't say a word."

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The staff at Fego's all attended Kath's funeral and held a wake in the cafe afterwards, with no expense spared in catering or decorations.

Ken said: "We're having my 100th birthday here next week and if they do it nearly as well as they did my wife's funeral, it will be excellent.

"I had arranged to have sandwiches and soup for that, but they put on lots of decorations and different kinds of food."

Ken has a go-to order at Fego's too, which he religiously observes between 1:30pm and 3pm everyday.

"I'll have a pot of tea, a bowl of soup, then usually some kind of meat or fish with tomatoes, cucumbers, baked beans and two eggs. And lots of mayonnaise on top.

"Then, afterwards, I'll have Eton mess. I'll have it everyday, either here or I'll take it home. Maybe that's the secret to a long life!"