No wonder so many A-listers want a Norfolk seat, it is the perfect base for a healthy, politically active life, as Jack Chase, will vouch, who is 100 today and still serving as a parish councillor.

He is almost certainly the country’s oldest parish councillor and remains as committed as ever to tackling the issues in his village of Caister, near Great Yarmouth.

A pity the web link did not include his pic, he looks amazingly well and has a wonderful smile. Incredible to think he has been a councillor for nearly 80 years – it must surely be a record. That’s why he has been rewarded for his public service with the freedom of the borough, joining an elite list including William Pitt the Elder and my hero Lord Nelson.

Jack confessed to being a bit of a rebel in his earlier days when serving as a Tory borough councillor, he says he was something of a “non-conformist”. He is obviously a man with true spirit, no wonder his chairman refused to take no for an answer when he wanted to retire last year.

His other passion is golf and the former seven-handicapper played up until last year, a healthy combination which obviously kept him both physically and mentally alert.

Come to think of it, there can’t be many centenarians in the world like Jack who are still politically active. I hope this remarkable man enjoys blowing out his candles today, it would be a nice touch if David Cameron sent him a congratulatory telegram and a nice bunch of flowers.