A NEWPORT woman who was honoured with an MBE for her tireless charity work has celebrated her 101st birthday.

Mary Courtney, of Aneurin Bevan Court, celebrated the milestone with a family party on Sunday, before joining her fellowresidents and surprise guest Newport mayor Cliff Suller on her birthday on Monday morning.

Her daughter Ruth Knight, 74, said her mother had a fantastic birthday and had a smart new outfit for the party.

“I asked her what her secret is and her motto is keep smiling,”

said Mrs Knight. “She has had slightly fewer cards this year, she had 147 cards for her 100th birthday and this year she has had 81. I told her she’s not just famous, she’s infamous.”

Mrs Courtney, a former Shaftesbury councillor, spent most of her working life as a nurse at St Woolos Hospital and Pontypool Hospital, where she met her late husband Leslie, whom she married in 1936 and went on to have four children.

She received an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 1996 for her work with charities over 25 years. Her roll of honour includes a past chairwoman and president of the Autistic Society; delivering meals on wheels with theWRVS; working with Oxfam for 25 years; being honoured by the NSPCC and the Royal British Legion for her charity work; and becoming a life member of mental health charity MIND.

She raised thousands of pounds for organisations such as the Red Cross, and remained active into her 90s, helping Oxfam on Cross Street and working four hours a day during holidays as a tour guide at Tredegar House.

Mrs Courtney volunteered with Friends at Tredegar House until the age of 98 and was also a founder member.