An Osbaston centenarian has put down her long life to “being happy and being yourself”.

Margaret French celebrated her 100th birthday in style with a trishaw ride around Monmouth and then a birthday tea with her friends from Social Circles.

The Mayor of Monmouth and his wife Fiona, popped by with a celebratory bottle of fizz and some flowers from the town council.

Margaret was born in 1925, the daughter of a ladies maid, her father was a tailor for the armed services mainly the Royal Navy.

Her grandmother was a farmer in Sussex and Margaret spent a lot of time there helping with the animals and around the farm.

She was a successful athlete with hurdles being her major with many medals to show for it. She was also a keen amateur actress, Sunday schoolteacher, librarian and book-keeper.

She met her late husband in a branch of Sainsbury's - she was in accounts, and he was a butcher. They were happily married for more than forty-five years, but he passed away over 20 years ago.

She moved from Cornwall to Monmouth to be near to her family and now lives with her daughter and son-in-law.

She had two children although her son has passed away.

She has six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, who love to visit and hear her stories.

Her grandson, who lives in San Francisco, came over especially to join in the fun.

Although she is living with Vascular Dementia, she always remains positive and as her eldest great-granddaughter says, “she does a very good impression of knowing what is happening.”

She enjoys the weekly visit to the Social Circles club at Bridges, run by Emma Hartley, where she loves to sing and do puzzles joining in with all activities and is a popular member.