THE final farewell will be said today (Monday) to one of Pembrokeshire's oldest residents, Elwyn Bowen of Tenby, who has died at the age of 104.

The dapper gentleman's funeral at Parc Gwyn Crematorium at 1pm will be followed by a gathering at the Begelly Arms, where his birthday cake will be shared amongst mourners.

Until a couple of months before his death on August 26, Mr Bowen had led a remarkably independent life and was a familiar figure in Tenby, always smartly-dressed and sociable, and also enjoyed catching the bus from the town to travel to Haverfordwest and back.

As recently as March, Mr Bowen went to London as the guest of local MP Simon Hart, where he met Prime Minister Theresa May at a St David's Day reception at 10 Downing Street.

The same month, he returned to MOD St Athan, where he served as a warrant officer 76 years ago, to tour the camp and have lunch in the officers' mess.

Mr Bowen left his home town of Narberth at the age of 16 and made his way to London, where he signed up for the Merchant Navy as an ocean-going liner steward. Before he was 21, he had made the return crossing to Australia seven times.

He later joined the RAF, serving in Jerusalem for two years, before taking up his position at St Athan.

Before his retirement he worked at Manorbier Camp and for the pensions service in Pembroke Dock.