A joint 100th birthday party was thrown for the two friends

Friends Dai Collins and Gwladys Morgan from Gwaun Cae Gurwen are due to receive messages from the Queen.

Former miner Mr Collins and Mrs Morgan, a retired insurance worker, are having a joint party at the village chapel.

They both put their long life down to kindness to others, good food and the pure air of the Amman valley.

A third resident, David Jones, is due to celebrate his centenary in September in a village with a population of only 2,800.

Mrs Morgan, who was born in Penderyn, Merthyr Tydfil, was ill throughout her childhood.

"I was two months premature, weighed only 1lb and was born without skin, hair and nails," she said.

Delicate

"I wasn't supposed to live I was so delicate. But my parents had already lost a son at just 18 months old and were determined to keep me alive whatever it took.

"They looked after me in my childhood and I've looked after myself since. I think I've done a good job."

Mrs Morgan, who was born on 6 May, also clearly remembers World War I and the hardships they faced for its duration.

I wasn't supposed to live I was so delicate Gwladys Morgan on her birth in 1906

She worked for various tobacconists in Merthyr before moving to Hereford at the outbreak of World War II to become an insurance superintendent for Prudential.

She was so good at the job she was kept on when the war ended and the men returned to work.

For 55 years Mrs Morgan remained single through choice before marrying her late husband Thomas John Morgan.

She was a bridesmaid at his original wedding to Annie Morris, who used to nurse Mrs Morgan when she was a child. But when he was later widowed, Mr Morgan actively pursued her until she agreed to be his wife.

When Mrs Morgan retired 45 years ago, the couple moved to Gwaun Cae Gurwen and she has been happily settled ever since.

"Being kind to people, eating good food and the pure air of Gwaun Cae Gurwen has helped. I've got a lot of good friends but I've been a good friend to lots of people too."

Welsh honey

Both Mr Collins, who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, and Mrs Morgan are still active.

Mr Collins is a keen gardener and puts his good health down to remaining busy, eating lots of fruit and having a spoonful of Black Mountain honey every day.

Born in Port Talbot, Mr Collins moved to Gwaun Cae Gurwen at the age of eight and was a miner until he retired in 1971.

But his birthday is tinged with sadness. His grandson Peter Bennett died suddenly late last year just after taking his final exams to become an airline pilot.

Mr Collins also lost his only daughter, Joanne Bennett, when she was 60.

"The last time I spoke to Peter he told me he couldn't wait to come to my 100th birthday celebrations," said Mr Collins. "Two days later they found him dead in Austria."