Charlie Harwood, who served as a firefighter in Tooting during World War Two, visited Tooting Fire Station recently to celebrate his 100th birthday with firefighters from the station's green watch. Charlie was presented with a commemorative firefighter's axe by green watch's youngest firefighter, Mark Whittall. Children from the local Henry Cavendish primary school also presented Charlie with a bunch of flowers and excerpts from Charlie's wartime memoires were read out. Charlie recalls a particularly tragic incident during his time as a firefighter: "We were called to Henry Cavendish school, which was being used as a fire brigade sub-station. On arrival we found 12 firemen and one firewoman had been killed by a bomb falling on their mess hut as they sat to eat. It was our job to retrieve the bodies. I had lived in this area all my life and knew well a couple of the men who had been killed". Being a firefighter during the war was a tough job, Charlie said: "We worked 120 hours a week and our wages were £3 a week." He added: "I was surprised and delighted to be invited back to Tooting Fire Station. It was wonderful. It was good to meet old friends and present day firefighters and it brought back many memories. "I don't consider myself a hero. During the war I was just doing my job. I would like to thank all concerned in arranging this special day for me."