LITTLE Alice Garfield was given an afternoon to remember when she visited a very special family friend in Clehonger who is exactly 100 years her senior.

Former farmer's wife Mabel Pritchard and four-year-old Alice, from Much Dewchurch, celebrated birthdays on the same day last month.

Mabel, who is now 104, is one of the oldest people in Herefordshire and was born in October 1899, a month that saw Britain go to war with the Boers in South Africa.

"I have always had to work very hard," said Mabel. "I lost my husband in 1941 and I had five children to bring up.

"We were very self-preserving and I had to plough a lot of ground and plant potatoes and wheat at our farm in Longtown."

Reading

Mabel later retired to Michaelchurch Escley and lived on her own until four years ago when she moved to Clehonger to be with daughter Olwen Griffiths and husband Ted.

Olwen said: "Mum is a very keen reader, who enjoys reading the Hereford Times, Farmers Weekly and the Daily Mail.

"She has a very good memory and takes a lot of interest in the livestock prices."

Mabel believes the hard labour of her younger years and her passion for boiled ham, boiled potatoes and parsley sauce have proved important in leading a longer life.

And she added: "I also love children. It keeps you young and makes you feel younger than you actually are."

Meanwhile, Alice who goes to nursery in Ross-on-Wye and Much Birch, enjoys riding her pony Pippa.