Banknock care home resident Hetty celebrates her 100th birthday

The 100th birthday of Hetty Howden was celebrated in style – despite lockdown restrictions – this weekend.
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Her family joined staff and residents of Bankview Care Home to mark the special occasion yesterday.

Everyone was determined to give Hetty a day to remember, although plans had to be scaled back because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Her son Archie said it was his mum’s “indomitable spirit” that she had displayed throughout her life that had helped her reach her century.

Hetty Howden celebrates her 100th birthday on May 23Hetty Howden celebrates her 100th birthday on May 23
Hetty Howden celebrates her 100th birthday on May 23

Last year she fell and broke her hip but managed to come through the necessary surgery at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Until then she had lived in her own home in Stenhousemuir, but on leaving hospital moved into the Banknock care home.

Archie said: “Mum has an indomitable spirit and is very strong willed. Throughout her life she has displayed this whenever facing any challenges.

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“The broken hip left her struggling to walk and she is almost blind but is still quite something.”

Born in Falkirk on May 23, 1920, Hetty grew up in Laurieston and was the eldest child of Alec and Mary Smith.

She had two brothers, Alec, who has since died, and Dan (90), a former Falkirk policeman.

Her education began at Laurieston Primary School and during the Second World War she joined the WAAF where she was stationed at Pitreavie as part of Coastal Command handling coded messages.

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Liked so many of her generation, Hetty was to meet her future husband, Archibald Howden, at Doak’s dance hall in Falkirk.

They were married in 1942 but shortly afterwards Archibald, a chartered mining engineer, broke his back in a pitfall.

He was unable to work and for the next seven years, Hetty, who was discharged from the WAAF to look after him, nursed him back to full health.

Archibald went on to be pit manager, including at Valleyfield in Fife, and the couple lived in Dunfermline for 38 years.

Following his retirement they moved to Stenhousemuir.

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Archibald died in 2002, the year of their 60th wedding anniversary.

Archie said: “My mum loved to sing and was a great country dancer. She always loved to travel and was all over the world, but particularly loved Russia.”

Joining Archie at the 100th birthday party and following all the social distancing guidelines, were his wife Moira, Hetty’s grandchildren Ross and Lynsey and great-granddaughters Emily and Anna.

Provost William Buchanan also attended to present a card and flowers to Hetty.