A 104-YEAR-OLD chose to mark her milestone surrounded by friends and family – in a pub.

And of course Rose Pearce could pick none other than the Chain Locker in Falmouth, which is managed by her grandson Jonathan.

Add to that the fact that Mrs Pearce has a soft spot for the pub's fish and chips, and there really was nowhere else to go on Saturday.

"I had a wonderful day," said Mrs Pearce, who still maintains her independence and lives in a house in Constantine.

"We had the party in the pub and the majority of my family were there.

"I had my fish and chips and a tiny glass of Guinness, which I have only occasionally."

As well as the birthday wishes from her family and friends, Mrs Pearce also received a letter from the chairman of Cornwall Council, Pat Harvey, who offered her congratulations.

Born Rose Monk in Kent, it was there she met her future husband, Cornish Methodist lay preacher Joseph Pearce. The couple later moved to Cornwall and married at Lanner Church in 1932.

They began a farming career in Carharrack, but eventually ended up at Trevaney Farm near Constantine. Mr Pearce died almost 40 years ago.

The couple had two children, Josephine and Alan, and Mrs Pearce now has five grandchildren, Sarah, Melissa, Robert, Jonathan and Jenny, plus five great-grandchildren, Thomas, Elliot, Layla, Joseph and Rita Rose, aged 5 months.

Mrs Pearce is still active in the community, attends Constantine Parish Church and won a prize at last year's Constantine Garden Society show.