Alexandra centenarian Chris Pope will turn 102 today.
Mr Pope may not see nor hear that well any more but still has a mischievous smile and looks forward to his daily outing to the Bridge Cafe for a cup of tea with his daughter, Joy Edwards.
Born in Dunedin in 1906, Mr Pope made Dunedin home. He built the house in which he and his wife, Freda, lived for 66 years.
They moved to Alexandra 12 years ago. Mrs Pope died in 2003.
Mr Pope was a well-known long-distance runner, joining the St Kilda Harriers Club in 1928, and was later made a life member.
He won 12 cross-country events. He was third in the first New Zealand marathon in 1933, in Napier, in a time of 3hr 38min.
He will celebrate his birthday today with the carers who used to look after him at his home before he moved to Ranui Home about eight weeks ago.
