FAMILY members and friends travelled from far and wide to celebrate the 100th birthday of Elizabeth Edwards in Dartmouth on Sunday.

Bubbles, nibbles, balloons and a birthday cake all added to the milestone anniversary for an amazing woman loved by lots of people.

Elizabeth has lived all over the country, but has never been so happy as when in Devon and has lived in Dartmouth for many years.

More than 40 people attended the celebration – some coming from Washington DC, Brussels and South Africa – to toast a woman described by her grandson, Matthew Bell, as the ‘bedrock of our family’.

Among those present were the mayor and mayoress of Dartmouth, Rob and Di Lyon, who read out the Queen’s telegram to the birthday girl.

Matthew and his wife Lucy, who live in South Africa, said: ‘It was a great day, much enjoyed by Elizabeth and her great friends and family.

‘I know that Elizabeth would love her milestone to be featured in the Chronicle, it would certainly round off her celebration weekend in style.’

Elizabeth now lives at River View Care Centre but before that was at Northernhay residential home, where she also made many friends.

She spent a great deal of time in the area when her late daughter, Dale, and son-in-law David Bell, ran the Laughing Monk restaurant in Strete in the mid 1980s, and then moved permanently to Dartmouth to live with them in Wadstray Cottage from about 2000.

Matthew said: ‘My parents ran the Laughing Monk from 1981 to 1988. Although my gran lived in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, London, at that time, she often visited and stayed with us, living above the restaurant for most summers, being actively involved in the business and charming the guests during the evening dinners.

‘She loves dogs and watching them run on Blackpool Sands.

‘We have had two pairs of King Charles spaniels in my family’s time in the South Hams, Dotty and Darcy during the Laughing Monk years, and Freddie and Charlie during the Wadstray years.

‘Her favourite animal has always been the owl, very fitting now for a wise and dignified lady, and was always delighted when she heard them hooting at night around Wadstray.

‘One of her other favourite things to do in Dartmouth has been enjoying a naughty ice cream, whatever the temperature outside, at the castle and overlooking the Dart.’

Matthew said during his grandmother’s time at Northernhay she was looked after by Kym Paddon who became a very close friend, along with Sylvia Grenfel and Mel Smith.

‘We celebrated my gran’s 90th birthday at Burgh Island, another one of her favourite places,’ he added.

‘Basically, my gran is an amazing lady, much loved by lots of people and has been the bedrock of my family forever.’

Elizabeth grew up in North Wales, where her father, Frank Lees, was manager of the Westminster Colliery, near Wrexham.

The family had moved from Yorkshire when she was a toddler. 

They lived at Summerhill, near Wrexham, and she and her older brother attended the local primary school.

She went to Grove Park Grammar School in Wrexham and was later the Almoner at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

When the colliery closed, the family moved into the pub business, running the Bridge Inn at Caergwrle from 1933 to 1955.

Elizabeth’s nephew, Brian Lees recalled: ‘Firstly, Elizabeth’s parents and then my father, her brother, were licensees.  

‘Caergwrle brewery used to supply bitter to the Bridge and customers used to order a pint of “local”. 

‘There used to be a bowling green at the rear but it was dug up during the Second World War to grow vegetables. During the war, it was frequented by US soldiers based at Llay and by Royal Engineers based at Plas Teg near Pontblyddyn.’

Elizabeth married Nick Edwards and they lived at Alltami, near Mold, where they ran a horticultural nursery during the war.