AN ABERSYCHAN granddad had a surprise yesterday when he found his coaches at a Pontypool leisure centre had organised a birthday party for him on the eve of him turning 100.

Ronald Prince, a century old today (Thurs), has attended the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) class at the Pontypool Active Living Centre for three years after he suffered a minor stroke.

One of the two trainers who co-ordinate Mr Prince’s classes, Lisa O’Connor, said: “Ron does boxing and rowing and weights – so he’s strong!

“He’s the first one in and the last one out. And Ron does all his own cooking, his own gardening. He was tired last week because he had done his garden.”

And she said the classes provide other benefits for attendees because they allow people to get out and about and meet new people.

Mr Prince will celebrate his 100th birthday with 140 family and friends at a party at the High Street Baptist Chapel in Abersychan, where he has been the organist for 40 years, this afternoon. His daughters Mary, who lives in Warwickshire, and Susan, who lives in Wiltshire, will be attending.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t up to immediately tucking into the spread the centre and friends had put on because he had eaten before he ventured out to what he thought was going to be his exercise class. It included a birthday cake featuring a Welsh dragon, crisps, spring rolls, tea and coffee and sandwiches. He kicked off the celebrations with a cup of coffee.

In his garden at home, which measures 1,000 square metres, he said he grows vegetables and berries. He puts his good health down to a healthy diet and that he does not smoke.

The former TV shop boss also enjoys watching soaps and classic films.

Mr Prince was born in Cardiff and moved to Abercarn when he was two. He then moved to Rogerstone when he was nine and later spent four years living in Pembrokeshire. He married his wife Grace in 1947 and they moved to Abersychan in the same year. She died in 2012, aged 89.

The normal exercise class was postponed until next Wednesday, when Mr Prince will be in a session with 94-year-old Ernest Bannister, who has been attending the leisure trust for two years.

The classes he attends form part of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS), which sees about 1,200 people take courses around Wales every year.

For more information on Torfaen Leisure Trust’s classes which runs as part of the NERS visit torfaenleisuretrust.co.uk/ners.