Celebrating her 100th birthday on Wednesday was well-known Saundersfoot resident, Mrs. Evelyn Titterton.

Born on February 4, 1909, Evelyn was the second daughter of Elizabeth and Fred May, of Shaw Road, near Cale Green, Stockport. She had three sisters, Sylvia, Edith and Rhoda, and two brothers, Harry and Alfred, all of whom she has outlived.

After leaving school, she worked as an apprentice machinist and trimmer at W. H. Lees, hatmakers, in Hillgate, Stockport. Then she met a maintenance electrician, Allan, from Christy's hat works, just down the road. They were married in 1932, and produced two sons, Jim and Geoff, 10 years apart, bringing them up in good north country tradition.

Evelyn opened a baby linen shop to provide an income, since Allan only brought home about £4 a week, and she ran the business right through the World War II years, but suffered quite seriously with pneumonia, so, under doctor's orders, moved to the seaside at Cleeveleys, near Blackpool. There she opened another shop, leaving her sister Edith to run the one in Stockport. After two years the sea air at Cleeveleys failed to improve her health, so she returned to Stockport.

A couple of years later, with the help of her cousin George (Torkington), Evelyn and Allan found a place by the sea in Tenby.

The family moved into the Prince of Wales Hotel in Upper Frog Street in 1953.

At that time, Jim was doing National Service in the RAF and managed to get a posting to Aberporth. Geoff went to school in Greenhill.

Evelyn's health improved and the Pembrokeshire sea air did her a power of good to get her to where she is now. Unfortunately, Allan died of a heart attack, in 1965, so she has now been a widow for 44 years.

In 1986, Evelyn had to have major heart surgery, replacing the aortic valve and had a pace-maker fitted. Only last month, she had to return to the Heath Hospital, Cardiff, for a second replacement, which should keep her ticking for another 10 years!

After Allan died, Evelyn had some very memorable holidays in South Africa, visiting her two sisters and her nephew Ian and nieces Linda and Phyllis.

And Evelyn was delighted that Ian had travelled all the way from his home in Cape Town for her special birthday celebrations this week.

For the last 20 years, Evelyn has lived in Saundersfoot, enjoying a quiet life in the village amongst good neighbours.

To mark her centenary, chairman of Saundersfoot Community Council, Clr. Phil Baker, presented Evelyn with a bouquet of flowers and a commemorative plate on behalf of the council during birthday celebrations at St. Brides Hotel.

Forty guests were in attendance, including sons and daughters-in-law Jim and Linda and Geoff and Evey, grandchildren Philip and Sarah, Lucy and Tim, and Chris and Sheila, with apologies from Alec and Lisa, from whom a message of congratualtions was read.

Messages were also read from Evelyn's seven great-grandchildren.

Telegrams were also received from HM The Queen, First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan AM, Paul Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Wales, and Work and Pensions Secretary James Parnell.

MC for the celebrations was Ian Nicholls, while during the afternoon, there was also a special dedication broadcast to Evelyn by BBC Radio Wales presenter Roy Noble relayed live thanks to the hotel staff and the BBC.