WHEN Phyllis King was born King Edward V11 was on the throne and the prime minister was Herbert Asquith writes LESLEY FLYNN.

Yesterday (June 8) she celebrated her 103rd birthday with a tea party at Avenue Road Nursing Home Abergavenny where she has lived since April 2009.

Phyllis King was born at Rose Cottage, Pontnewynydd and registered as Phyllis Evelyn Taylor by her father, but her mother objected to both names and said she would be called Effie instead, so she has been called that ever since.

Effie had two sisters, Lily and Olive and a brother Percy and after completing her education she stayed at home to help look after the family.

She met her husband Jack King at a dance in the secondary school in Trevethin where many years later their only son Brian would spend his teaching career. Brian and his wife Jannette had three sons, one of whom lives in Canada, the other two are in Milton Keynes.

Effie recalled the first meeting with her husband, "I remember he had a car which was very unusual in those days."

They spent their honeymoon in Weston Super Mare and were married for more than 40 years before Jack's death.

Effie has all her faculties apart from being hard of hearing, and she is regularly visited by her daughter-in-law and friends and neighbours from Blaenavon, Penygarn and Abersychan.

She enjoys a bacon sandwich and likes a good sing-song, remembering all the words to the old songs.

She says she might even have a glass of sherry to celebrate her birthday.

• Staff at Avenue Road Nursing Home, left to right Jess Greenwood, Joyce Godfrey and Sarah Lewis pictured with 103 year old Mrs Phyllis King.