WALES’ OLDEST WOMAN AMONG TRIO OF SUPERCENTENARIAS AT LLANDEILO HOME

Gwenllian heads home’s trio of supercentenarians nearing 110.

WALES’S oldest person Gwenllian Davies, who has lived through two world wars, will be 110 in October.

Remarkably, Gwenllian has two fellow supercentenarians sharing her Carmarthenshire council Fairfach Awel Twyi care home, retired nurse 103-year-old Mary Kier 103 and former farmer Winston Peregrine aged 102.

Home manager Sharon Dyer said: “To have three supercentenarians among 38 residents is quite exceptional. People have asked us what we put in the tea. It is nothing but love and attention and a really happy environment.”

County health and social care executive board member Cllr Jane Tremlett said Gwenllian was a wise, well read and witty person who had led a fulsome and incredible life spanning an amazing century of great changes.

Confessing to be a little deaf and sometime forgetful, Gwenllian, who herself worked had as a farmer’s daughter and then farmer’s wife in Pontardawe most of her life still walks unaided and will serve tea for her visitors.

The remarkable Gwenllian was born the same day October 5, 1905, of the first aeroplane flight lasting half an hour by the Wright brothers and the year Albert Eistein published his papers for his theory of relativity.

The era of fight might have been in its infancy but by the time she was 36 in 1941, Gwenllian can remember being horrified watching from her hilltop valley farm home above Swansea the destruction by the Luftwaffe in a three-day blitz.

The First World War still wrankles with her because her pocket money was reduced from 1d a week to a halfpenny. “The war wasn’t my fault” she said, “why should I be penalised.”

Gwenllian remembers the horror of seeing Swansea “lighting up” and “ablaze with explosions day and night.”

Widow of Arthur, who died in 1970. Gwenllian has no children but her farm Lletty Philip was often open house to children from the Pontardawe community and nephews and nieces who called her Aunty Gwennie.

Her great nephew and wife Martin and Eleri recall as many as a dozen children at a time on the farm on Saturday mornings and as many would sleep over.

Eleri says all the children worked hard helping with the milking, herding and the sheep and all would look forward to the legendary big breakfasts cooked up by Gwenllian. She would have as many as 24 eggs sizzling in the pan and against all health advice eat only the white fatty bits of bacon.

Gwenllian cut and gathered hay on the farm for many years before the advent of combine harvesters and was also known for being able to sow and collect potatos in furrows over hundreds of yards without raising her head.

Before she went to the Awel Towi five years ago Gwenllian would often be seen outside her Llandeilo home weeding the garden until the light faded each day never losing her farming instincts.

Eleri says: “Gwenllian is a remarkably intelligent woman who has worked hard all her life. She has never smoked or had anything outher than the odd celebratory drink

“She is remarkably well read and startled the mobile librarian who when calling at her home when she was 95 was asked for books by Russian writer Dostoevesky. ‘That was a first for me‘ said the librarian.

“Gwenllian’s main aim in life has been to help and support others. She has always been well known for her kindness.”

CAPTION

SUPERCENTENARIANS: In the foreground are Winston Peregrine (DOB 09-01-1913)  Gwenllian Davies (DOB 04-10-1903) and Mary Kier (DOB 03-03-1912)  with behind left to right care assiatants Eleri Davies and Anne Radford, county executive boards member for social care and health Cllr Jane Tremlett; Awel Towi manager and care assistant Kelly Brown. Pic: Jeff Connell