A FORMER cabaret dancer celebrated her 107th birthday with other residents at her nursing home.

Gwen Traynor, of Newport, who was a dancer with Dessie Desmond dance troupe until she married her late husband Frank, marked the milestone at The Fields Nursing Home.

During the celebration held yesterday, a pianist played birthday songs and entertained everyone in the lounge.

Mrs Traynor received a card from The Queen, the First Minister Carwyn Jones, and the team at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Music loving Mrs Traynor has played the organ all her life, as well as the piano, something she played as a hobby for local dance troupes, during concerts and at social clubs.

Born in Blewitt Street, Newport, she later moved with her parents to Corporation Road where they ran a fish and chip shop.

In her teens, she travelled around the country in a dancing troupe until she married.

Mr Traynor, who worked as a steelworker and a chimney sweep, was also from Newport.

The couple bought Pontfaen Stores in Greenmeadow Road in the late 1950s, selling groceries.

Daughter Angela Traynor, 69, described her as "the best mum ever" adding that Mrs Traynor brought her up with dancing and music.

“Maybe her years of dancing and love of music is what has kept her going for so long,” she added.

“For her 100th birthday I bought her a blanket with an old photograph of her from her time dancing doing the splits and when she saw it she was just amazed.”

Mrs Traynor previously lived at Glenmore Residential Home for six years, moving there when she was 99 years old, and taking her organ with her so that she could play for other residents.

Mrs Traynor's only son Clive, who lived locally in Newport, looked after her and took care of her every need right up until he died three years ago.

She has lived at The Fields home for just over a year and yesterday was treated by her daughter, who travelled down from Chester, to a chocolate birthday cake from Gemelli's Restaurant. She was also joined by her nephew Barrie Wreford and his wife Janet, who live in Risca.

Her daughter added: “She adopted me when she was 35. I'm very grateful - she has been fantastic. I was two weeks old."

For her 105th birthday celebration, The South Wales Argus reported how she celebrated with a Zumba class.

Mrs Traynor is great-grandmother to eight- aged from one to 27.