FLANKED by four generations of her family, plus enough friends to pack the bar of the Bell Inn, Redbrook, Amy 'Win' Hawkins celebrated her 103rd birthday in style on Friday.

Now living near Monmouth, Win welcomed a large crowd to help her celebrate her birthday ­– including her 'little' sister Lilly, who is, by comparison to her big sister, a mere stripling at 94.

As ciders and beers were drunk in her honour, the entertainment was provided by her family and friends, including the bands Wild Welsh Women, and a stripped down Ghost Of A Dog, The bar was decorated with display boards containing many photographs of Win, her daughter, her granddaughters, and great grandchildren.

Born in Cardiff in 1911, Win grew up in Newport where she spent most of her life, before moving in with her daughter in Monmouth around three years ago.

Attributing her longevity, partly, to 'eating plenty of fish', Win has memories that go back to the end of the First World War, when the soldiers were returning to the area following the armistice. She also has a photograph of herself, with her classmates, on Children's Peace Day, in 1918.

Her birthday was also marked by an official visit by the Mayor of Monmouth, Gerry Bright, plus newspaper reporters, and the birthday party itself, which ran on late into the night.