Newport woman marks 100th birthday with visit from mayor (From South Wales Argus)

Newport woman marks 100th birthday with visit from mayor

2:40pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News

A NEWPORT woman described by her family as always smiling celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with cake and candles.

Harriet Howells, known as Gwen, had a small party with special guest visitor, the mayor of Newport, Cllr John Guy, at Stow Park Nursing Home.

Born in North Wales on February 14, 1913, Mrs Howells moved to Manchester when she was six years old. There she met her future husband Carey, a teacher from South Wales where they returned to live.

Described by her daughter Glenys Munkley as very musical, Mrs Howells was training to become a singer until she contracted diptheria. Despite this she became involved with Newport Philharmonic Choir when she came to live at New Pastures in the Gaer, in 1985.

When she lost her son and her husband within six months of each other, she coped brilliantly, said Mrs Munkley.

“My mum really loves Newport and really embraced it,” she said. “The staff at the nursing home are absolutely amazing and they have made her life really good.”

Now a grandmother to Ellen and Esther and a great-grandmother to ten-year-old Kitty, Mrs Howells had a “tremendously happy” marriage to her late husband and is a wonderful warm-hearted person, said Mrs Munkley. “She can’t believe she is that age,” she said. “Mum is the first one in our family to reach 100 years old.”