Archive - Tuesday, 17 February 2004


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Nellie's 100th birthday

RAGLAN'S oldest resident Nellie Jenkins turned 100 this week.

Nellie, who was born in Monmouth on Valentine's Day, celebrated her big day at St Cadoc's Court on Saturday.

Surrounded by dozens of flowers and birthday cards, she enjoyed a special party with family and friends before opening her message from the queen.

The 100-year-old said the secret to a long life was to have an active mind and a healthy body.

Nellie says she keeps herself going to watch over the families of her three sons.

She said: "I am very pleased that so many of my family and friends came along to my party."

Born Ellen May Taylor, her family moved to Raglan in 1919 to work for a man called Albert Jones and one of her father's jobs was to build a porch on the Crown Hotel in the village.

Nellie married Albert Jenkins when she was 21 and they moved to Elm Cottage where she lived for the following 78 years.

During that time, she raised four sons, one of whom died in the Second World War and is remembered on the memorial at the market cross on Chepstow Road.

Raglan has changed since Nellie first moved to the village. Telephones and electricity arrived, motorways replaced railways and e-mail has overtaken post, but well wishers say Nellie has continued to be an active and valued member of the community.