Abercarn great-gran toasts 104th birthday (From South Wales Argus)

Abercarn great-gran toasts 104th birthday

12:20pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News

A WOMAN from Abercarn who has lived to see 19 different prime ministers take office and has seen 23 summer Olympic Games take place celebrated her 104th birthday yesterday.

Harriet Callaghan, who now lives in the Parklands care home in Newport, celebrated with a party at the home yesterday, joined by family and friends, including her son-in-law, Eric Sainsbury, 79.

Mrs Callaghan lived with Mr Sainsbury and his wife, Patricia, her daughter, until March this year, when Mrs Sainsbury died.

The great-grandmother was born in Crumlin on January 7, 1908, and married Thomas, who was a miner, before the couple moved to Abercarn where they had their two children, Patricia and John.

Mrs Callaghan worked for Williams’ Greengrocers in Cwmcarn until she was well into her sixties, and slowly moved down the valley, first living in Newbridge, then back to Cwmcarn, before moving to Risca, Rogerstone and finally to Parklands in Newport.

The delighted grandmother of four and greatgrandmother of three also received her fifth card from the Queen.

Mr Sainsbury said: “She is in a wheelchair now but mentally she is as bright as a button.”