PATIENT pensioner Alexander Boswell waited nearly a century for one magical moment in time -- and it lasted just a minute.

When he celebrated his 94th birthday on Wednesday night his 24-hour clock said 20:02 and the date on his calendar read 20.02 2002.

The Farnworth nonagenarian -- who was born at 8.02pm on February 20 1908 -- had been looking forward to yesterday since he was a boy.

Astologers said the unique time and date sequence was a cosmic event that would bring good luck to everyone with something to celebrate. It will not happen again for another 110 years.

But Alexander, who celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary on 01.01 this year, was not counting his lucky stars when the magic moment arrived.

He said: "My lucky number should be two or 20. But I prefer the number five. I was the youngest of five children." Alexander was born in Deane and remembers being presented with a tin of chocolates on the day of King George V's coronation in 1911.

He saw a German zeppelin bomb Kirk Street in 1916 and was at the first Wembley FA Cup final -- which Bolton won 2-0 -- in 1923.

Alexander worked at Booths steelworks during the Second World War and became a structural engineer at Watsons until his retirement.

He and his wife, Ivy, have lived in Farnworth for 52 years. They have a son, Carlton, a grandson, Martin, and a great-grandson, Alex.

Alexander said: "Not many people can say they can celebrate their birthday at 20:02 20.02 2002. It was well worth waiting for.

"Patience is the definitely the secret to a long and happy life."