There have been 100th birthday celebrations this week for Mrs. Mollie Davies (Bowling). 

Lilian Mary Fenn (Mollie) was born on August 17, 1909, the eldest child of George and Lilian Fenn, of Dudley, West Midlands.

George Fenn was later to make his name as an industrialist owning brickworks in the town employing a large workforce.

As a teenager, Mollie saw zeppelins flying over the Midlands during World War I.

She was educated at Louther Ladies College in Bodelwythan, North Wales, where she excelled at swimming and represented North Wales at La Crosse.

After school, she lived the life of a middle class socialite of the time, attending parties, dances and travelling throughout Europe.

Mollie enjoyed showing Arab horses in the Midlands, and when her father George heard of a very good young mare for sale near Worcester named Hepzibar, he bought her, and soon had tremendous success in shows winning everywhere. They went to Royal Show at Windsor and beat the famous Lady Wentworth to have the Arab champion, the gold medallion presented by King Faisal of Arabia.

In 1939, with her family, she visited Tenby on holiday, and during that time she met Allen Bowling from the well-known family in Pembroke Dock.

In 1940, Mollie married Allen in a double wedding with sister Ruth and best pal Owen Davies from Crickmarren Farm. They all lived in a bungalow in Freshwater East during the war years. 

Mollie has two sons, Peter and Billy, a daughter-in-law Siv, three grandsons, Joe, Alex and Mark, and three-great-grandchildren, Morwenna, Brynley and Alfie.

From 1947 to 1957, the Bowling family lived at The Elms, Golden Hill, Pembroke. Sadly, the marriage did not last, and Mollie started a bed and breakfast business at Springfield, Marsh Road, Tenby. She worked hard and was soon successful enough to move to South Sands Hotel in Victoria Street, Tenby. 

In the 1980s, Mollie bought a second hotel in Victoria Street. She later met John Davies, and married for a second time, and soon retired from business.

Mollie and John moved to Abbey Gardens in Penally, and started showing Boxer dogs throughout South Wales, and soon won championships, and with careful breeding, soon had international champions. She gave over a young dog to a professional 'walker' from Chester who provided Mollie with what she always wanted, Champion of Crufts' world-famous dog show. One puppy dog was sold to Australia, from which have come many of the champions since, in Australia and New Zealand.

In the 1990s, Mollie and John moved to the house next door, Clifton Cottage, where she spent many happy hours in the garden, and won the best garden in the village award for numerous years.

Mollie continued driving her car into Tenby up until her 95th year, and carried on looking after herself until 1997.

Two years ago, she had a nasty fall, and after careful consideration, found a small residential home at Castleview, Llawhaden, where she is very well looked after, with her own private suite. Her family and friends visit her regularly, and Mollie is usually in good spirits and still enjoys a glass of sherry.

Mollie celebrated her 100th birthday with a lunch for family and friends at The Stackpole Inn, a champagne and birthday cake party followed at Castleview, where a wonderful time was had by everyone.