A Llandogo-born woman who drove lorries during the Second World War delivering Spitfire parts has just celebrated her 100th birthday.

Eva Mary Louise Cox was born in Llandogo On November 28th 1921, the second child of Elsie and Frank Vincent.Most of her young life was spent between Bristol and Trellech where many of her relatives lived. Eva would often recall catching the steam train from Bristol, where the guard would take care of her, until she arrived in Trellech where her grandfather would collect her with his pony and trap.When war broke out in 1939 18-year-old Eva signed up to the WRAF and trained as a lorry driver. She quickly became a LACW, leading aircraft woman and would travel between Gloucester to Norwich and Manchester carrying aircraft parts for spitfires, never taking a day’s sick leave.After the war, she moved to Symonds Yat to be near her sister Lavinia. There she met her husband Arnold Cox who worked locally on the River Wye. They had a daughter, Jennifer and all three along with their black Labrador lived in a ramshackle bungalow with a tin roof. Eva worked many long hours as a waitress at The Wye Rapids hotel and looked after the elderly in the village. Eva’s aim was to give the family a better life and in 1959, she and Arnold had saved up enough money to buy Hillcrest which they turned into a very successful Guest House. Eva, also ran the local post office and was church warden at the local parish Church, St Dubricius.Eva was an active member of the community and even when she and Arnold decided to downsize in 1968, she continued to let out her house to guests and had many elderly ladies stay with her also. It was during this year that their daughter Jennifer married and two years later in 1970, Eva and Arnold became Grandparents to Kirsty.Both Arnold and Eva were keen avid gardeners. They had an allotment nearby with a goat, sheep and chickens. They grew all their own produce and she was a very valued member of the W.I, always taking part in flower festivals and fetes in the village. Arnold would cycle well into his eighties to the river where he would work taking members of the public on river cruises and Eva continued with her B & B, well into the millennium where both decided to retire.In 2009, after 62 years of happily married life, Arnold sadly passed away, two years after their great grandaughter, Kristina was born. In 2011, her second great granddaughter Grace was born.Eva, continued to live in their cottage in the village and kept herself busy, still attending functions where possible and driving right up to the age of 97. She became a resident of Ganarew Care home after developing some signs of dementia. Her granddaughter, Kirsty said that she is a very valued member of Ganarew and has made many friends in the 18 months she has been there."At 100, Eva, has led a very full life and to this day, is still so well known and thought of within the community and is a doting mother, grandmother and great grandmother" and clearly contributed in her living such a long life. ’’We are so proud of her and congratulate her on her 100th birthday" she added.