We had a message into the office today from Lisa Plutoni (Thomas as was), who now lives in Monaco. We knew immediately it was something that had to be featured in our magazine, and we are thrilled to be able to share it with the rest of South Wales.

What I would say, read right through our story and we reckon it’ll come as a shock to you, just as it did us. If you think we have it tough today, with the pandemic (and of course we really do), read on and you’ll see how it was once before.

We want to wish a very Happy Birthday to RUBY ELIZABETH THOMAS fondly known to many as RUBY NANA. This is not any birthday either, Ruby is an incredible 103 years young, and we couldn’t be prouder to share that with you.

Ruby is a resident at Anwen Care Home in Bridgend, and we know they are giving her a fantastic day, despite the current restrictions.

She is truly an exceptional lady who had 5 children, 12 grandkids, 21 great grandkids, not sure how many great great grandkids, Lisa told us she’s lost count (she thinks 3). However many of them there are, each and every one of them want to send Ruby much love and special birthday wishes.

Lisa said that Ruby Nana is her father’s Mam and he passed in 2013 at the age 75. He was so proud of his Mam. 

When we asked what Ruby’s recipe for longevity is, the answer – bananas and honey on toast and laughter and it’s true, she still has a sparkle in her eyes.

Ruby, we are with you on that one, we love the banana/toast combination. As it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, perhaps we could persuade them to let you try one of our favourite recipes. Baked Banana & Cinnamon French Toast is exactly what it says, and it’s blooming yummy. RECIPE

Ruby is loved by many and the entire family all send her very best wishes on her 103rd birthday. 

The date 103 years ago from today was Sunday, March 10th, so we thought this would be a good opportunity to look back at those times. What we learned was pretty unbelievable, especially when you consider what we’ve been through over the last year.

We shouldn’t really be talking about this on such a happy day but I’m sure Ruby heard all about these events and can draw parallels with what is going on today.

First of all, here’s a page from a newspaper of the time…..

Looking back to the time Ruby was born, incredibly, and a little spookily, Wales was in the middle of a flu pandemic (I know), which pretty much lasted a full year and killed around 10,000 people here.

I think the saddest story to come out of that time, and there were many, is that of Gunner Ivor John Hiley who had survived three years fighting in World War One in France but a month after Armistice Day he was back home – and dying of influenza.

His wife Maud, 28, and five-year-old daughter Molly died two weeks before on the same day, one at home in Sebastopol near Pontypool, the other in a nursing home.

They were victims of this worldwide flu pandemic which in Wales alone would leave an official death toll of at least 8,750 but which is estimated to be as high as 11,400.

Globally, 50 million people lost their lives in 1918-19 in what became known as Spanish Flu. It could strike alarmingly quickly, leading to collapse and death within days or even hours. For some, symptoms included lungs with a blue fluid and bleeding from the ears or nose.

Writing this has actually sent shivers down our spines. Imagine what it must have been like back then. We at least have incredible technology and made huge advances in medicine and treatment. The statistics from Ruby’s days are truly frightening.

• At least 50million and up to 100million may have died worldwide, including 12.5million in India. Civilian deaths in the UK were estimated at 185,000.
• Although called Spanish flu, the outbreak is believed to have started in the United States – picked up from fowl and transferring to a military base.
• Overall, the death rate from influenza over the year in Wales reported by the Registrar General was calculated at 4.3 deaths per 1,000; it was as high as 6.6 per 1,000 at its peak.
• Barnsley (8.3) had the highest mortality of 82 county boroughs in England and Wales, followed by West Bromwich (7.7) and South Shields. Hebburn had the highest mortality of 161 towns, followed by Jarrow and Kidderminster.

In Ruby’s early years something like 56% of the population of the parish of Llanddeiniolen, near Caernarfon, had no knowledge of English and there was one parish on the Llyn peninsula where everyone was monoglot Welsh. By the 1930s there were nearly 100,000 people in Wales who could speak only Welsh.

Ruby also went through the depression that began in the 1920s and was described as “the central happening in the history of 20th century Wales.” People left Wales in huge numbers and there were fewer people here in 1931 than in 1921. In fact, by 1932, almost half the adult male population were out of work.

The National Eisteddfod was held in Neath the year Ruby was born. A soldier, who returned from the trenches of WW1 took to the stage to propose the creation of a ‘Welsh League of Nations Union’. David Davies of Llandinam, horrified by what he had witnessed in war, called for all at that Eisteddfod to pledge to the pursuit of peace – 3 months ahead of the Armistice that would end WW1 on 11.11.1918.

100 years later, as the crowds descend on Cardiff, Peace campaigners repeated this call from the Peace Tent at the 2018 National Eisteddfod – with a programme of events marking the week.

• Sir John Morris-Jones a Welsh grammarian, academic and Welsh-language poet, was knighted for his services to literature.
• For the first time, a woman stands as a parliamentary candidate in Wales: Millicent Mackenzie stands unsuccessfully for the University of Wales, itself a new parliamentary seat (which is won by Herbert Lewis).
• The British submarine HMS H51 is launched at Pembroke Dock.
• Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David) was The Prince of Wales.

It has been an incredible 103 years, and one we are so proud to share with Ruby and her family in a very small way. Happy Birthday Nana Ruby.