Merton Cooke, 101, survived starvation during the Depression and still works in the family business

He left school at 16 and starved through the Great Depression, but 101-year-old Merton Cooke is still going strong and works in the family business at The Entrance.

101-year-old Merton Cooke puts his feet up, with his granddaughter Jackie Sims and daughter Lesley Sims.

WHEN you're 101 years old you have a few memories, and Merton Cooke puts his to work.

Mr Cooke works at his family run business, Memory Lane at The Entrance.

It's a second hand store and Mr Cooke likes nothing better than having a yarn with customers. He also chips in and places furniture outside for display each day.

Mr Cooke celebrated his 101th birthday last Friday while at work.

"I get to talk to people about history," he said.

At Memory Lane Mr Cooke works with his daughter Lesley Sims and granddaughter Jackie.

"Dad is a gold mine of information on some of the things that come through the store," Ms Sims said.

Mr Cooke said he was born in Stanmore, the oldest of three children, and his father was a barber.

"We moved around a lot and I went to Narrabeen Primary School, Manly High School and a short stint of three months at Sydney Boys High School," he said.

"I had to leave school at 16 because of the Depression which was pure starvation.

"Dad lost all of his money that he had invested in a timber company, it was a hard time for many people."

When he left school Mr Cooke painted roofs.

"I painted myself in on a couple of occasions but I soon learnt," he said.

Mr Cooke met and married Doris (deceased) and the couple had two children Lesley and Richard. He has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mr Cooke served in the NSW Fire Brigade until 1972 and during World War II was stationed at Circular Quay. He received the Queens Fire Medal for exemplary service as well as a good conduct medal.