A WOMAN from Holyhead has celebrated her 102nd birthday despite the coronavirus lockdown.

Thanks to technology, Doris Hughes, who has survived a horrific cycling accident, tuberculosis and meningitis in her younger days, was able to see her son, Ken Hughes, and other family members as they joined the birthday party via a social media platform which was shown on a big screen at the Gwyddfor Residential Home in Bodedern.

Retired teacher, Mr Hughes, who lives near Wrexham, stated that while it was disappointing that he could not physically be with his mum on her special day, he was grateful that he was able to see her on screen.

He said: "It’s absolutely understandable at this time.

"Quite rightly the owners of Gwyddfor Residential Home, Mary and Glyn Williams, are being very cautious and that has to be the right thing to do.

"I had planned time off and I was going to go down to Anglesey to spend a week with mum, taking her out on trips but I had to cancel.

"At least through WhatsApp we were able to see and talk to her - it’s been amazing.

"My sister who lives in Northern Ireland was able to see and talk to her too as well as my niece - and care home staff who are self-isolating at home also joined in, it was lovely.

"She’s as bright as a button and clearly enjoyed chatting to us.

"I would like to add my sincere thanks to Glyn for going one step further than the use of WhatsApp and organising a Zoom event so that the family could share mum's birthday together."

The extraordinary birthday milestone of his mum also allowed Mr Hughes to reminisce on her remarkable life.

He added: "She was born on March 28, 1917, near Llangefni and was the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Jones.

"She lived on Anglesey almost all her life and had several siblings, some who died very young.

"She married Gwilym Hughes, who was a merchant navy chief cook, in 1942, when they were both 24.

"They were married at the Mount Pleasant Chapel, Holyhead, and remained dedicated to each other until dad passed away in 2014.

"Dad mainly worked going back and too to Ireland, across the Irish Sea, and occasionally down to Fishguard, places like that.

"I have a sister Brenda, 75, who now lives over in Northern Ireland.

“Mum has four grandchildren, Alan, Barbara, Edmund and Emily, all residing far from Holyhead.”

“She had a terrible cycling accident as a young woman, as she was going down a steep hill and put her feet on the handlebars as she wanted to protect her stockings.

“But she somehow collided with a vehicle and was quite badly hurt.

"I know she lost most of her teeth and had other injuries.

"Then she contracted meningitis which she survived and later tuberculosis and was placed in Llangwyfan Sanatorium, near Denbigh, which was a place where TB patients were treated."

Best birthday wishes were also extended to Mrs Hughes by Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales.

He said: “This is another superb example of our wonderful Care Forum Wales using their ingenuity and modern technology to find ways to circumvent the current problems and ensure that Doris Hughes had a memorable birthday celebration.”

Care home proprietor, Glyn Williams, who is a member of Care Forum Wales, added: "It is obviously a shame Doris couldn’t have visitors to see her on what is a momentous day.

"However, we have been able, through technology, to ensure her son, daughter and other family members got to speak to her and see her .

"Other residents were keen to have a party with Doris, and she wanted to play bingo so that’s what we did.

"The video call went really well and some staff members who are self-isolating at home rang in which was nice.

"Doris absolutely loved it."