THEY'VE seen the second world war and the emergence of Cwmbran.

Yesterday twins Beatrice Griffin and Albert Griffiths celebrated their 80th birthday.

More than 60 people attended a party at Fairwater Social Club.

Born and bred in Llantarnam Road, Lantarnam, they were two of William and Mary Griffiths' nine children.

Mrs Griffin said: "We lived in just a small terraced house with three bedrooms.

"It was crowded but we got on very well."

Llantarnam was one of the founding villages of Cwmbran.

Both fondly remember the original village.

"We had quite a lot of fun there as kids," said Mr Griffiths.

"We used to swim in the pond and camping up the mountain. It was wonderful."

The two went to St Dials Primary School, while William carried on to West Mon Grammar.

Most of their older brothers and sisters were involved in the second world war.

After the war Mr Griffiths joined the Fleet Air Arm himself for three years. He married his wife Joan in 1950, while Mrs Griffin married in 1949 to Ray, who died 30 years ago.

She is a mother of three, a grandmother to three and a great-grandmother to four.