A GREAT great grandmother celebrated her 107th birthday yesterday.

Florence Millicent Jenkins, who is known as Milly, celebrated the occasion with five generations of her family.

Yesterday, dressed in a pink outfit, she opened a telegraph from The Queen, had numerous bouquets of flowers and had her hair done.

The former pupils and dinner lady of Garndiffaith School also enjoyed a special tea party with other residents at Ty Ceiros nursing home in Pontypool, where she has resided since May 2011.

Mrs Jenkins was born in Garnant, near Ammanford in 1906 and moved to Garndiffaith as a young girl.

She attended Garndiffaith School until she was 14, and then moved to London to work for a doctor and his wife.

She later returned to Wales and worked at ROF Glascoed as an ammunition inspector.

Mrs Jenkins went on to work in the canteen at Vipond's Collieries, at Deakon's slope in Varteg and then later in the canteen at ICI Fibres before she retired aged 62.

But she did not stay retired for long, and soon returned to her old school to become a dinner lady, where all the children referred to her as 'Auntie Milly'.

She retired from this role aged 70.

Mrs Jenkins was also a member of the Varteg Wesleyan Chapel and joined the sisterhood there.

Despite being the nursing home’s oldest ever resident, Mrs Jenkins is a keen singer and often can be heard singing hymns at Ty Ceiros, as well as dancing at the nursing home's events.

She is still a supporter of Welsh rugby and thoroughly enjoys watching the games on the TV.

The nursing homes deputy manager, Sharon Leach, said: “Millie loves to get involved and adds a lot of colour to the nursing home.

“I have been here for all of Millie’s birthdays at the home and I look forward to celebrating again next year.”

Mrs Leach explained that Mrs Jenkins even has memories of when the Titanic sank, despite being a young child at the time and she shares stories of meeting The Queen.

She even has her own version of The Lord’s Prayer, which Ms Leach says the staff love to hear.

Mrs Jenkins, who has now lived in Garndiffaith for nearly 70 years, is described as very determined by her family.

Despite a fall a few years ago, in which she fractured her spine, she learnt to walk again.

Mrs Jenkins is the widow of Gordon Jenkins who was originally from Blaenavon.

They had two sons, Denis and Alan, and her family has extended to nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Newport woman celebrates 100th birthday

A Newport woman celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday at Fields Nursing Home.

Joined by friends and other members of the home, on Fields Road, Edith Brain enjoyed cake and a visit from a singer to help her celebrate. Of her one son, four grand children and and nine great grandchildren, Mrs Brain was joined by six members of her family.

It seems that hard work is key to old age. Edith's grandchild, Helen Geek, 46, is very close to her grandmother whom she describes as a 'hardworking woman'.

Mrs Geek said: "All she's ever done is look after other people. Working kept her going."

Edith has spent her whole life in Newport and previously lived on Caerphilly Road, Bassaleg. She worked as a cleaner for Whitehead's Athletics club as well as a solicitors in Rhiwderin and was a keen bowls player at the community centre in Caerphilly. Edith moved to the home two years ago after suffering a stroke.

Mrs Geek said: "I think she'll be really pleased to see everyone."

Kim Waters, who works at the home, said all the residents had been looking forward to the party. She said: "She's a very happy, jolly lady. Quite a character to say the least."

She'll be the only 100-year-old at the home, but is still able to walk around. Among Mrs Brain's well-wishers were the Queen, the Welsh Assembly and the Department of Work and Pensions who all sent her cards.