Celebrating her 100th birthday today (Friday) is well-known Tenby resident, Mrs. Lillian Lowe.

Born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, on February 23, 1907, Mrs. Lowe (nee Curtis) was the eldest of four children. She spent her childhood growing up at the family bakery in Knowle, Warwickshire.

She met Norman Francis Lowe, a precious stone dealer and retail jeweller, at a tennis club in Knowle, and they were married in July 1931. Mrs. Lowe was also a keen golfer and was captain and secretary of her club in Solihull.

In October 1932, the couple's first son David was born. He and his wife Christine live in Taunton and celebrated their own golden wedding anniversary last year, commenting that it must be very rare to have your mother at such an occasion!

Lillian and Norman's second son Peter was born in February 1936, while their daughter Carole was born in December 1945.

Norman and Lillian ran the family jewellery business in both Acock's Green and Knowle until 1963. Norman first came to Tenby in the spring of 1946 when he was invited by a neighbour who was a wholesale greengrocer to come to the area to buy Pembrokeshire potatoes.

They stayed at The Croft Hotel and Norman fell in love with the town. He brought Lillian, David, Peter and Carole on holiday that summer, and because babies were not allowed at The Croft Hotel, and Carole at that time was only six-months-old, they stayed at the neighbouring Fourcroft Hotel, then owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ossie Morgan.

And therein lies the opening of another chapter in the family's history. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan had a daughter Ray whom Peter was later to marry. The family decided to move to Tenby themselves in 1963, ironically taking over The Croft Hotel which had become available.

Sadly, Norman died in 1981, just after he and Lillian had celebrated their golden wedding.

The family ran the hotel until 1988 when it was converted into the holiday apartments that it is today.

Mrs. Lowe has enjoyed a very active retirement and is a keen member of the Inner Wheel Club, of which she was president twice and secretary. She has enjoyed various holidays, including a trip to Australia when she was 84.

Mrs. Lowe will be celebrating her centenary with a special birthday lunch at the Fourcroft Hotel. Her three children, David and his wife Christine, Peter and his wife Ray, and Carole and her partner Chris, will of course all be there; also her brother and sister, nephews and nieces, who are all travelling down from The Midlands.

Also there will be her seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, who are not allowed to call her great-granny, as Mrs. Lowe says it makes her feel old, so they all call her 'Super Gran'! When asked for a recipe for a long and happy life, Mrs. Lowe, an avid Daily Mail crossword fan, said: "It is leading a busy life with lots of laughter, an occasional glass of champagne and lots of chocolate!

"But most of all, my wonderful great-grandchildren who visit me frequently have definitely kept me young."