A Pembroke lady who had been motoring for eight decades, had a ‘wheelie’ great time last week when she celebrated the mini matter of her 100th birthday.

Joan Evans, who had been a Mini motorist from the age of 17 up to 97, when she had to give up driving, travelled in style to her landmark birthday celebrations at Neyland Athletic Club in a Mini cavalcade, thanks to an idea from her cleaner Liz, a member of a classic Mini club.

A Native of Narberth, Joan (originally Joan Calvin-Thomas), who now lives at Brighton Mews, after moving back to Pembrokeshire two years ago after living in Bristol, enjoyed a fabulous birthday on July 28, receiving hundreds of cards, including congratulations from HM The Queen, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

During her time motoring for eight decades, she even served as a driver for the Air Ministry during World War II, and is well-known locally, having previously owned a shop in Pembroke’s Main Street and an ironmongers in Pembroke Dock’s Diamond Street.