A CHIRK resident celebrates her 107th birthday today.

Rita Evans, known as Nanny Evans, is a resident at Chirk Court Care Home, and has lived in the area for more than 70 years.

Mrs Evans was born in Swansea three years before the First World War, meaning she was seven years old in the year of the armistice, which has recently been commemorated to mark its 100-year anniversary.

The 107-year-old joined in with all the residents at Chirk Court in commemorating the special 100 year anniversary by making a beautiful poppy wreath and also being entertained by popular war time songs from the 1940s.

Mrs Evans moved to Chirk having left South Wales in 1941. Her husband, Gwyn Thomas Evans, who she married in 1937, worked as a miner.

With the mines closing down south, the pair moved to Black Park where Gwyn worked at the pit.

When they first moved up to North Wales they took lodgings but later moved to live in the 50s at Black Park where Rita soon became known as Mrs Gwyn.

On the closure of Black Park Pit, Gwyn moved to work at Ifton Colliery and then later to McAlpines.

By this time they had four children and had moved to live in Church View, moving later to spend many happy years living in Chirk Green.

They later moved to Highfields which took the place of the old Chirk Green houses. Losing her husband in 1963 meant that Rita began working at the Hand Hotel in the kitchens.

From 1965 she worked at Brynkinalt Hall where she remained until she was 73 years of age.

Following her retirement from work Nanny Evans continued to work by looking after her family who she enjoyed knitting and cooking for.

She also enjoyed playing regular games of bingo at Chirk British Legion where she was a member for many years.

For the past nine years Mrs Evans has lived at Chirk Court Home where she is a popular resident, enjoying activities and still taking an active interest in all that her family of two surviving children, 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren.

Chirk resident Julie Fawcett said: “We are so proud in Chirk to have Nanny Evans as our oldest resident and her philosophy on life is an example to us all of how to work hard and enjoy good home cooking.

“Happy Birthday Nanny Evans from everyone in Chirk and God bless you so very much.”