A RISCA centenarian celebrated his 105th birthday surrounded by family and friends yesterday.

Clifford Parfitt was joined at Millbrook Residential Home, Pontllanfraith, by his sons David Parfitt, 75, who made the trip from Guernsey, and Edgar Dickinson, 67, of Risca.

Pontllanfraith Sainsbury’s staff also paid him a visit bringing him presents including flowers.

Mr Parfitt enjoyed a party with the residents of the home he has lived at for nearly five years and received cards from the Queen, The Houses of Parliament, The Welsh Government, and The Department of Work and Pensions.

Mr Parfitt was born in Oakdale in 1908 and worked down the pit at Nine Mile Point Colliery in Cwmfelinfach during the war.

He was married to his late wife Jenny Edwin Parfitt for 60 years. After leaving his job at the pit, Mr Parfitt moved to Birmingham to work at the Bakelite factory as a tool maker, before moving back to Risca to work at the Surflex factory.

He then went on to work at Precision Tools in Newport until he was 65, and continued to keep busy following is retirement making Welsh dressers.

His foster son, Mr Dickinson, said: “He was a very gifted carpenter and a devout Christian who did a lot for The Salvation Army.

“He would take the young soldiers out every Saturday to sell the papers.

“At 105 you would expect to see a weedy bloke but his health is excellent, apart from the fact that he can’t see very well, and he is slightly deaf.”