Oddfellows member, Muriel Pugh, is celebrating her 100th birthday.

On Monday, October 8, Mrs Pugh reached the milestone surrounded by her friends and family.

She was born in Essex and moved with her family as a young child to north Wales at Penrhyndeudraeth, when her father was asked to help Mr Cooke set the the Cookes Explosives Factory.

She met her future husband Robert Pugh, who was born in nearby Llanystumdwy, as he was beginning his career on the railways.

They married young and had a family of five, living for many years in the idyllic village of Borth-y-Gest.

Bob served in the army during the Second World War, seeing active service in Dunkirk, north Africa, Italy and France. On his return home, he took up his career again with British Rail in accountancy.

This led to him, many years later, becoming station master at Gobowen.

Mrs Pugh and the family moved to Oswestry – a big change from their lives in the small seaside village.

Mrs Pugh had adored living by the sea and spent many days on the beach with her children, however did settle in 'friendly' Oswestry.

She has a great love of the outdoors and a youthful and fun outlook on life, still able to make the people around her laugh.

Mrs Pugh loves to dance, enjoyed keep fit, is always listening to music and up until a few years ago belonged to a local walking club – the oldest member.

She had a passion for gardening and delights in having flowers around her.

As a mum and a grandmother, she took great pleasure in knitting, cooking and baking for her own children and later for the many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The 100-year-old, still to this day, enjoys homemade cake and enjoyed a slice of her birthday cake.

As her husband was the secretary of the Oddfellows and the organisers of dances, coach trips and holidays for the branch, they had a lot of friends.

Their overseas coach holidays were renowned for the immense amount of fun they used to have.

Mrs Pugh used to say that no matter what cares or aches and pains they had, as soon as they boarded the holiday coach, their spirits were lifted and they laughed, danced and sang like teenagers.