A former Monmouth GP is one of four centenarians at the Whitchurch Care Home who will be featured when activities co-ordinator Jayne Edwards will be interviewed by the BBC today ahead of the care home’s open day tomorrow which will have Morris dancers.

Eric Old turned 100 in February this year and joined the select club of centenarians at the care home where he now lives with his wife Angela.

Eric joined Chippenham House medical practice in 1966 and was extremely busy as the doctors were also running Monmouth Hospital on Hereford Road, which had an operating theatre, an x-ray department, and a minor casualty unit.

Eric missed the impact of the mobile phone, which came just after he retired - in 1991, at the age of 65.

On retiring, Eric was invited to join volunteers at the recently opened Regimental Museum adjacent to Monmouth’s castle, and here he was the administrator for 25 years.

Hi wife Angela, who lives alongside him at the care home was a successful novelist writing under the name of AV Denham, having over a dozen romantic fiction books published.

For many years she also coordinated the WRVS support to the emergency services at times of a significant local emergency.

Angela also loved needlework and was a stitcher on the Monmouth Priory Tapestry.

Whitchurch House's director, Ram Mahendran, said: "We were delighted and honoured to arrange a special 100th birthday party with entertainment at Whitchurch House for Dr Old.

“Dr and Mrs Old are both residents at Whitchurch House care home. Perhaps uniquely, we have three residents including Dr Old who reach this special 100th birthday milestone this year and we look forward to celebrating the moment with them tomorrow, their families and fellow residents.”