It was only fitting that Jean Howes’s 90th birthday celebrations were awash with laughter and song.

The well-known musician and television personality was even joined by the second half of her “Jean and Gene” double act, Gene Steede, to mark the milestone birthday.

Friends and family also joined in the celebrations at Westmeath yesterday afternoon, which Ms Howes described as “the best surprise birthday party of my life”.

She told The Royal Gazette that good friends and good music were the secret to a long and happy life adding: “It’s all about enjoying yourself.”

Ms Howes came to Bermuda at the age of 2 from Nova Scotia in Canada with her parents and four siblings.

At the age of 9 as she walked home she was struck in the eye by a stone that had been thrown by another child and two years later had lost the sight in both eyes.

She went on to crusade in schools across the island warning children of the dangers of throwing stones at each other. Mrs Howes was also the first blind resident to have a guide dog and taught Braille to people with visual impairments.

“One of the things I am most proud of is the work I did in the schools,” she said. “I went to every school on the island several times warning children of the dangers of throwing stones at each other and telling them that is how I lost my sight.”

Despite losing her sight at such a young age Mrs Howes went on to become a talented musician playing the piano, the accordion, the mouth organ and the guitar.

Together with her band she played at venues across Bermuda and also played at residential care homes and the hospital.

In December 1993 she was awarded the Queen’s Certificate in the New Year’s honours list for her contribution to the island’s charities and the community.

Her son, Terry Southern, said: “My mother did a great deal of work for charities in her life.

“She even wrote a book of poems called A letter to Aaron for my son.

“She gave all the proceeds to charity and never kept one dollar to herself.”