There were parties, gifts galore, cards (87 and counting!) and a steady stream of visitors for a lively and extremely popular Abergavenny centenarian this week.

Megan Jones, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, has lived in Holywell Crescent for the past 30 years.

Until their retirement she and her husband Trevor had run Hardwick Farm, which is still in the family - run now as a dairy operation by their son Cyril and grandson David.

Born into a Welsh-speaking family in Cwmgwrach in the Vale of Neath, Megan had a brother and three older sisters.

“I went to the local school and won a silver medal for three years’ perfect attendance - the only thing I’ve ever won! I used to go to the Welsh chapel in the morning, afternoon and evening on Sundays and the Band of Hope on Mondays.

“Our father was a farmer’s son. His job was building underground roads for the mines but ill health forced him to give it up and we moved from there to a farm in Trellech for ten years.

“Then he and my mother bought some houses in Abergavenny and we moved here - to Raglan Terrace.

“At that time my husband-to-be Trevor, who was a farmer’s son, lived opposite at Ysbytty Farm. We met when I was coming home from the Baptist Church and he and his father were walking home from the Presbyterian Chapel. That’s how our romance started.

“We married at his church in 1940 and three generations have been married at the same church since.”

The couple had three children, Marlene, Cyril and Zena and six grandchildren and Megan now has six great grandchildren too.

“Trevor was working for his father when the Hardwick Farm came up to let. More than 200 people put in for it but we got it. He was just 26 then.

“We ran Hardwick Farm - or Hardwork Farm as I called it - as a market garden!

“We grew all sorts of vegetables there which we sold to Barrell’s wholesale greengrocers in Abertillery (my sister was married to one of the family). At one time we had 23 acres of potatoes.

“We used to start work at 5am and carry on until bedtime - every day of the year including Christmas.

“We ran the business for 43 years before we retired to this house.

“Trevor died nine years ago on Sunday - the day before my 91st birthday.”

Megan was a founder member of the Ladies Fellowship, which started in 1959, and carried on going to their monthly meetings until the beginning of this year.

She still loves socialising and still enjoys sewing.

On Saturday she was taken to the Hardwick Restaurant for a birthday meal by her grandson Mark (a lawyer in the Scottish Parliament) and his wife and children who’d come down from Edinburgh.

On Sunday she enjoyed a special church service where she was invited to choose her own hymns. Afterwards there was a family outing to Gliffaes for high tea.

Monday, the day of her birthday, she was out and about again - meeting with her friends at the Age Concern Club’s Christmas lunch before returning home for a birthday party including family members and friends, where a trio of local teachers (also friends!) sang and played her favourite tunes.

“I’ve had a really happy life - and my 100th birthday has been great,” she said. “I’d like to thank everyone for the cards and presents. They’re wonderful.”