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A beloved former Hendre School dinner lady has celebrated reaching an incredible milestone — her 100th birthday.

Great-grandmother Joan Robbins (née Harris) was born on Ludlow Street, Caerphilly, on October 1, 1925.

The eldest sister to Dorothy and six half-siblings, Joan grew up on First Avenue, Trecenydd, and attended Hendre School — where she would later return to work as a dinner lady throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Joan began working life at just 14, commuting from Caerphilly to Brecon to work as a nanny, before taking a job at a silk factory in Treforest during the Second World War.

Joan’s mother passed away when she was only five-years-old, and she was raised by her father, spending time with her aunties across Caerphilly and as far away as London.

Joan’s life could have taken a very different turn. Her mother’s family emigrated to Canada, and Joan was meant to go with them — but when her younger sister Dorothy fell ill, she stayed behind to help care for her.

It was a decision that kept her in Caerphilly, where she went on to meet her late husband, Frank Beresford Robbins, known as Beres, at a wedding in 1947. The pair married two years later.

Beres, a carpenter and roofer, had served in the Burmese jungle during the war and was awarded the Burma Star Medal for his service.

The couple settled on Heol Tir Gibbon, Penyrheol, and raised four daughters: Angela, Carole, Denise and Jill. As a family, they regularly enjoyed holidays to Tenby.

Joan has ten grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and is the godmother of Penyrheol councillor Lindsay Whittle. Her grandfather, Jenkin Harris won four caps playing football for Wales.

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Joan the Phone’, she was often seen in the village phone box calling her daughters. For her 60th birthday, she was given 60 pound coins, which she used to buy her first home phone.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer on her 100th birthday, Joan shared her secret to a long life: “Eat plenty of good food – not rubbish – and do some exercise as well. I don’t think there’s much else you can do.

“I’ve also got four lovely daughters that look after me.”

Reflecting on her milestone, Joan said: “We’ve been to Miller and Carter to have a meal this afternoon, and I’ve had lots of visitors, and lots and lots of cards with 100 on, so I’ve had a really good day.”

Joan also received a birthday card from King Charles III — although she admitted she would have loved to have had one from the late Queen Elizabeth II.