BRISTOL great-grandmother Winifred Rowlands had a big 90th birthday surprise at the weekend when four generations of her family hosted a special party close to where she spent her honeymoon 67 years ago in Wales.

Known affectionately as Win, her family decided to take her to the Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire. Her late husband came from there and some family still live nearby.

Nearly 40 family members – children, grandchildren and great-grandchild – turned up.

Win, from Frenchay in Bristol, said: "It was a complete surprise, but ever so nice to have everyone together, especially in this lovely part of Wales where many of my late husband's family come from and still live and close to where I spent my honeymoon."

It was organised by daughter Marion, from Bradley Stoke, who said Bluestone was somewhere her mother enjoyed visiting for holidays.

"When we were thinking of how to celebrate her birthday we appreciated that mum's best present was to be surrounded by her loved ones, and she does love Bluestone where we stay regularly," said Marion.

"There aren't too many places where four generations, including a 90-year-old and a lively seven-year-old, can holiday together and both have a really good time."

Win was born in Bristol on February 4, 1922, and has lived in the city all her life, including through the heavy bombing of the Second World War. But, according to her family, she remained positive throughout and says "we just got on with it".

She met her husband Jack at a dance. He came from Carway near Llanelli, and had gone to Bristol to work in the aircraft industry. They married in December 1944 and honeymooned at his parent's home in West Wales.

Friends and family donated their clothing coupons to help provide the bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses.

"Dad's family became very important to mum and she became very close to them. West Wales has a very special place in her heart and that's why we wanted to make her 90th birthday very special at Bluestone," added Marion.

Win worked for more than 30 years at Frenchay Hospital in the Neurological Pathology Laboratory.

The couple had three daughters, but her husband died in 1986 and she lost her daughter, Mary, in 2003.