From German torpedoes to inventor Thomas Edison, the MP for Chipping Barnet, Sir Sydney Chapman, looks back on the amazing life of one of his more unusual constituents:

I write about a remarkable and indeed extraordinary constituent who lived for more than 103 years.

Clifford Middleton was born in London on February 15, 1897, just before Queen Victoria celebrated her diamond jubilee.

He spent his childhood holidays in Selsey Bill, where he soon got to know the flag signals of passing ships. Thus began a deep interest.

Joining the Merchant Navy in 1914, his first voyage was in a sailing barque, without radio, carrying coal around Cape Horn to San Francisco, well before the Golden Gate Bridge was built.

When he sailed back his ship was sunk by a German submarine and he spent three days in an open boat in the Atlantic.

His next trip was on a steamship which was sunk by a German torpedo. This time he spent four days in the Atlantic.

He went to San Francisco again and returned via the Panama Canal on the first convey through it.

By this time he had met Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb and the phonograph.

After the First World War he worked for Electrolux, where he helped develop the oil-powered refrigerator which made possible cold storage in remote places without electricity.

He enlisted in the Royal Indian Navy in 1939, commanding their volunteer reserves in many convoys in the Far East.

One day, when in Bombay, he arranged to meet a fellow Atlantic survivor. A late lunch with him saved his life when an exploding ammunition ship blew up his office.

At the end of the war he came to Barnet and made his home in Kings Road where he lived for the rest of his life, though business kept him abroad frequently.

On one occasion, he was deported from Jordan, suspected of being a spy.

He retired in 1967, continuing to travel extensively. Aged 99, he took to computers, surfing the internet enthusiastically.

This kept him in touch with his far-flung family, from Singapore to Cape Town and from Minneapolis to his son-in-law and daughter, Sir Gerald & Lady Hosker, who live in nearby Granville Road.

I had the privilege of knowing Clifford Middleton since I became his MP. He was a friend and supporter, frequently grilling me on political, financial and international affairs.

I shall treasure in particular the Christmas card he sent me, in his own hand last month.

Clifford lived life to the full and to the very end.

He died peacefully in Barnet Hospital on January 9, where he spent the last ten days of his life in loving care.