Hill walks keep sprightly grandad 104 years young
ABINGO-LOVING great-greatgrandfather will turn 104 this weekend – but is still “fit as a fiddle” and enjoys a mountainside walk nearly every day.
“Incredible” Trevor Ward also loves dancing and his loving family say he doesn’t need any medication at all.
Born back in January 1914, Trevor, from Clydach Vale in the Rhondda, is well known in the Valleys, and his daughter-in-law, Morwenna, playfully described him as a “freak of nature”.
He will celebrate his 104th on Saturday and Morwenna said: “He only takes blood pressure tablets but he doesn’t actually need them – he doesn’t need any medication at all.
“I make his food for him and do his laundry and washing and his shops, which we have taken it in turns to do over the past few years.
“But apart from his hearing having gone a little he’s fit as a fiddle. He walks every day apart from on Sundays and meets his butties and they go together.
“We think he’s brilliant – he’s a legend. He comes out with some amazing stories and he likes telling a joke with the family.”
A former miner born in Llwynypia, Trevor began work at the Cambrian Colliery as a teenager and spent 38 years underground before ending his career at Porth Textiles, taking on many other ventures in between.
He was married to wife Bessie for 75 years and is father to Shirley, 81, Kay, 76, and Robert, 66, with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Even the snow doesn’t stop Trevor and his friends on their vigorous daily walks, and on Boxing Day “happy-go-lucky” Trevor, who “likes a drop of whisky”, was at the pub enjoying drinks with his family.
Morwenna added: “People cannot believe it when they hear how old he is – he looks years younger than his age.
“He doesn’t age and he loves going dancing every Saturday down Tonyrefail Working Men’s Club and he still goes to bingo on a Tuesday.
“Whether he can hear it or not I don’t know.
“But it’s a day out for Trevor and that means a lot because every day is a long day for him.
“Everyone in the community knows who he is – he’s very wellliked. He is very positive about life. He keeps himself clean and tidy and he knows when he’s going out to put his collar and tie on and he knows exactly what to wear.
“He doesn’t need any help and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him.”
His daughter, Shirley, added: “He’s a marvellous father and his family would like to wish him a happy and active 104th birthday.”