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A familiar face to many as the long-serving manager of his local Co-op, Dennis Reynolds has today celebrated his 103rd birthday at Bargoed Care Home.

Born in Phillipstown to William and Helen on May 6, 1921, and growing up with brother Meirion and sister Beatrice, Den lived most of his life in Cwmsyfiog.

He met his wife Nancy in the local Co-op store and they married in 1942.

During the war Nancy worked as a clerk in a factory and later became a housewife once they were married. She sadly passed away in 2012.

Den, who used to attend the Methodist church in Gilfach, worked as ground defence in the RAF during the war for five years and afterwards went to work at the Co-op as a grocer. He was a manager there for 37 years before retiring.

He also enjoyed football, swimming and bowling in his younger years and was a keen traveller – with China being a particular favourite.