TERRY Treder, former chairman of Leominster Royal British Legion, has enjoyed an active life and now sticks to an exercise programme that would make many younger men flinch.

Polish-born Terry, who escaped from a Nazi prison camp to fight with the French Resistance and the British Eighth Army, has just turned 80.

Each morning he does 80 push-ups followed by six miles on an exercise bike.

"If you want to stay fit you've got to work at it,"says Terry, a keen runner and former member of a local football team.

A sideboard covered with a display of British Legion testimonials and awards - including the prestigious Gold Badge - are evidence of another great passion.

During more than half-a-century with the Legion, Terry, of Falconer Place, Leominster, has made "an outstanding contribution" says current branch chairman Frank Low.

He was the local Poppy Appeal organiser for many years and one of the prime movers in planning and raising money to build the town's spacious British Legion Club at South Street in 1975.

The club went on to become a hub of social activity.

With live music, weekly dances and many other events, it remains the town's busiest venue.

The success of what was hailed at the time as a highly ambitious venture - the branch had to borrow money and buy land - is a source of pride for Terry, who enjoys his regular visits to the club.

He does not miss his Polish roots. He has returned 'home' only once, in 1963, following his wartime escape.

Time with the Maquis - spent carrying out daring raids on the enemy from mountain hideaways along the French/Swiss border - was followed by Terry's return to the Second Polish Corps of the Eighth Army.

He took part in the decisive push through Italy and received a shrapnel wound at the battle of Monte Cassino.

After the war he opted to go to England and was stationed at Shobdon and Barons Cross camps. He met his late wife Violet Mifflin - who died in 2002 - at a Leominster dance in 1948 and later joined the Mifflin construction firm.

In Leominster and the Legion, Terry found his world.

"I have loved my time in the Legion because of the comradeship - we have all worked together," he said.

He senses that comradeship may be increasingly alien to upcoming generations but is thankful that his generation experienced its joys.