A MAN living in Penarth recently celebrated turning 100.

George Watkeys celebrated a century of life with a tea party at Morel Court Residential Home, on Raisedale Road, on Monday August 29.

Mr Watkeys was born to parents Rachel and Frank Watkeys in Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday, 29 August 1922.

He was educated at Monkton House School in Cardiff which – in 1994 – amalgamated with Kings College to create Kings Monkton School.

Kings Monkton School was formed in 1994 from the amalgamation of two of Cardiff’s oldest schools – Kings College and Monkton House – both established in 1870.

He had an older brother, Glyn, who entered the ministry and was vicar at St Mark’s Church in Gabalfa, Cardiff for many years. 

After school, George was called up to serve during the Second World War. He joined the RAF and was stationed for five years in India as a wireless operator. 

During this time, he contracted malaria and was in hospital for a year with his parents receiving a telegram indicating that George was “unlikely to live” and to prepare themselves for the worst.

But Mr Watkeys survived and, after the war, continued studying eventually going to London to study dentistry.

Penarth Times:

He met his wife Sheilah at a dance, and they married in 1954. They had three sons: Stephen, Mark, and Ian but sadly Ian died aged five. 

George will be well remembered in Rumney, Cardiff, where he had a dental practice.

During his later years he was appointed as the dental officer for the ancillary hospitals in Cardiff. This position allowed him to teach many dental students to help them qualify within the profession.

He also served as a Magistrate for numerous years. 

George and Sheilah enjoyed travelling and saw many parts of the world including visiting their son, Mark, and his family in Australia.

They moved to Penarth in 1998 to enjoy their retirement. Sheilah sadly died in May 2020.

George has been a resident of Morel Court Residential Home for the last six years and is grateful for the love and attention he has received from the dedicated staff there.