Carron care home resident celebrates 100th birthday

Ellen Blake today (Friday) received visits from family at Carrondale Care Home in Carron, as well as a bouquet of flowers from Provost Billy Buchanan, to mark the occasion.

Whether it be sewing, volunteering or walking, Ellen always kept herself busy and her kin couldn’t be prouder of the centenarian.

Daughter Linda Ryan said: “She’s always been very healthy. She kept herself very active for a long time.”

The third child of David and Margaret Morris, Ellen grew up in Edinburgh along with older siblings David and Margaret – known as Peggy – and would become life-long best friends with her sister.

Ellen secured work as a shorthand typist in the capital after leaving school before being called up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War.

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It was in her home city she met future husband John Blake who was stationed in South Queensferry with the Royal Navy.

The couple married in August 1942 and had their first child, Sylvia – who was unable to attend the 100th celebrations – the following year.

John left the Navy in 1946 after 12 years’ service and was offered the job of superintendent physiotherapist at Falkirk Royal Infirmary.

Ellen, John and Sylvia then moved to Falkirk for two years before finding a home in Ritchie Place, Grangemouth in 1952 where their second daughter, Linda, was born in 1954, followed by son Gordon two years later.

Unfortunately, John didn’t survive to see his six grandchildren or seven great-grandchildren as he died aged 53 after a short illness.

Devastated having lost the love of her life, Ellen took up sewing and began helping friends and neighbours with various pieces and alterations.

Such was her prowess with a needle, word soon spread and she became a well-known figure in the Falkirk region.

Ellen also volunteered in the Oxfam shop in Falkirk once a week for 25 years.

Return trips to Edinburgh to visit her mum and sister were also a common occurrence until Peggy’s death in 2004.

When her eyesight began to deteriorate, Ellen was forced to give up sewing.

In 2013 she moved into Carrondale Care Home, where she has been well looked after.

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