Old Maidonians and Desborough Society president celebrates 100th birthday

A Maidenhead man who has spent decades actively involved with community organisations has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Colin Cutler became a centenarian on Friday, January 30 and celebrated the milestone with his friends and family.

Mr Cutler was born in Maidenhead in 1926 and has spent most of his life living in the town, except for the 15 years he spent living away after he and his late wife Doreen got married in 1950.

He was an industrial chemist with Shell, and his work took him and his family to Venezuela, where they lived for two years.

Upon returning to Maidenhead in 1965, Mr Cutler got involved in a number of
community initiatives.

He set up a neighbourhood watch scheme for the Shoppenhangers Road area.

He has since retired from the role but the watch is still running.

Mr Cutler spent more than 20 years as a governor for the school now known as Desborough College in Shoppenhangers Road, and served as chairman of governors for 17 of those years.

He attended the former Maidenhead County Boys’ School at the site, while both his sons Michael, 73, and David, 69, were pupils when it later became known as Maidenhead County Boys’ Grammar School.

Mr Cutler has been involved with the Old Maidonians and Desborough Society – previously known as the Old Boys’ Association – for many decades and is still president.

The society, which dates back to 1924, forms a link between former pupils and staff from the school.

As part of his work at the society, Mr Cutler is also the editor of the annual newsletter sent out to members.

Mr Cutler has also been heavily involved with the local scouts, having served as a district commissioner with the Maidenhead District Scout Council for 10 years.

He then moved onto county level and spent around 15 years as county secretary with Berkshire County Scout Council.

An active golfer, Mr Cutler was part of Maidenhead Golf Club for 60 years before his membership came to an end in December, when the Maidenhead site closed.

He is still a social member of the club and visited the club’s new home in Mill Ride in
Ascot this week, where members celebrated his 100th birthday.

Mr Cutler said he was ‘certainly the oldest’ amongst his peers at the club.

Celebrations began last week and Mr Cutler enjoyed a meal at the Golden Ball pub in Pinkneys Green with family and friends on Saturday, January 31.

When asked how he feels to reach the milestone, Mr Cutler remarked: “I feel very young actually.”

Sharing his secret to a long life, he said: “Certainly being active. I’ve played golf for much of my life.

“I’ve certainly been mentally active with the various things I’ve done, including the newsletters I write and so forth. I think it’s activity as much as anything.”