PIONEERING surgeon Harry Williams celebrated his 101st year with friends and family in Melrose last week.

The day-long party continued on at the Salvation Army Hall in Hawick, where a special This is Your Life presentation took place.

Harry has devoted almost all of his life to the Salvation Army as well as giving the gift of life to the sick around the world.

In retirement, Commissioner Williams lives at School Cottage in Melrose and is still involved from time to time in Salvation Army projects.

Fellow colleagues from the Christian organisation praised Harry for his ongoing support.

Lieutenant Caroline Brophy-Parkin said: “At 101, Commissioner Williams still takes a keen interest in the life at the Corps and especially loves the young families and children.” Working as a surgeon Harry was sent to India, where he practised for over 30 years, in four different hospitals throughout the length of the country. During his training he gained knowledge of facial reconstruction which he later used to aid hundreds of patients with debilitating and stigmatizing diseases, such as Leprosy.

Working in theatres throughout New Zealand, Australia and later the Americas, Mr Williams was officially recognised by the Salvation Army with a Bolivian hospital being named in his honour.

And during this worldwide hospital tour he also earned the nickname 'Hurricane Harry’.

The Harry Williams Hospital can treat up to 25 patients and specialises in maternal child health and paediatrics, serving a widespread catchment area.

A mobile unit operates regularly from the hospital in Cochabamba.

Major James Williams, who supports retired Salvation Army officers from the church’s national headquarters, said: “Officers are the backbone of the Salvation Army. They bring a wealth of experience and knowledge into the present day.” Harry takes time away from the ministry to write and his most recent book on the Salvation Army was completed in the past decade.

Painting is also a fond pastime of his and he sells his works to raise funds for the Corp’s projects.

Major Williams added: “Retired officers were once fully engaged in ministry work and, like Commissioner Williams, continue to fulfil the call of God in their lives and in their community, even beyond active service.” Now in his 101st year, Commissioner Williams still has fond memories of how he came to medicine as a career.

He mentioned in a recent Salvation Army video: “I always felt that my life was in God’s hands, and when I was about 17 I felt that I should do it in terms of medicine- in terms of serving God.”