Frodsham’s oldest resident dies at 105

FRODSHAM’S old resident, former fireman John Miller, has died aged 105.
His funeral will take place at St Laurence Church on Monday and his hearse will be escorted by a vintage fire engine.
The Mayor, Cllr Lord Frank Pennington, former Mayor Mallie Poulton, ex- council chairman Cllr Judith Critchley and the present chairman Cllr Alan Oulton – himself a former fireman – have all sent condolences and sympathy to Mr Miller’s family.
Mr Miller is believed to have been the oldest retired firefighter in the country.
When he celebrated his 100th birthday, he visited Frodsham Fire Station and was given a standing ovation by firefighters.
He had dreamed of being a fireman from the age of 10 after seeing local crews battle a blaze that wiped out trees on Overton Hill.
But his most memorable time was during World War 2 when he and other local firefighters were drafted into Lverpool to fight fires caused by the Nazi bombers who blitzed the city.
He was also once transferred to Bournemouth to support local firefighters at a time when a Nazi invasion was thought to be imminent.
Mr Miller continued as a firefighter after the war, rising to the rank of sub-office and  retiring in 1963.
He and his wife, Margery, who died in 1973, had two sons and a daughter, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.