Falkirk great-gran celebrates 100th birthday in style

But looking good comes easy to the mum-of-two who was once a part-time model and who would give her family a telling off if they didn’t wear jewellery of “lippy” to complete their look.

For the last three years she has been a resident in Thorntree Mews care home in Arnothill, Falkirk, but previously spent almost six decades living in Shannon Drive.

Staff at the home pulled out all the stops to ensure Margaret had a day to remember after Covid-19 put paid to the family’s original party plans.

Born in 1920 at Glenkinchie Distillery, Pencaitland, Margaret was the second youngest of ten children, three boys and seven girls.

Her father was the distillery manager and when he died in 1926 the family were sent to a grace and favour house in Camelon’s Rosebank Buildings with her eldest brother at 14 having to work in Rosebank.

With no income, her mother had to take in washing to feed the family and, Margaret used to be known as an expert at ironing as she used to do it all the time to help her mum.

Her first job was in McKinley & Thomson’s childrenswear shop and she would be sent all over the district to deliver parcels.

During the war she worked in the Bonnybridge Power Station. She was engaged to Johnny White who was serving overseas and when the telegram came that he was missing presumed dead, she waited for two years on him before it was confirmed he had been killed.

After the war a visit to Falkirk Ice Rink saw her meet her future husband, Reggie Brown, and the couple married in 1948.

They had two daughters, Eunice and Pamela, and in the early 1960s moved to Bantaskine.

Sadly Reggie died from lung cancer in 1971 and Margaret has been on her own ever since.

Her family recall how Margaret was a great homemaker – dressmaking, knitting, cooking, jam making and home baking just some of her skills.

But as a young widow with a home to look after, she also turned her hand to decorating, DIY and gardening.

She worked part-time in Miss Hill’s baby shop in Falkirk and won prizes for her window displays.

Margaret was an active member of Falkirk Old Parish Church, now Trinity Church, and volunteered at the luncheon club where she would serve pensioners younger than her.

She was also in the Townswomen’s Guild and lately the church guild.

Her love of children, especially babies, saw her volunteer to weigh infants at the baby clinic.

A member of Falkirk Bowling Club in Cochrane Street, she had lots of friends and liked nothing better than a chat and a laugh.

Always immaculately dressed, Margaret insisted on good manners and her elegance saw her regularly model at fashion shows for Sneddon’s.

Daughter Eunice now lives in Kent and until recently Margaret used to travel there several times a year to catch up with grandsons Ross, Niall and her six great-grandchildren.

She loved helping to look after granddaughter Mhairi when daughter Pamela, who was with The Falkirk Herald and is now with NHS Forth Valley, returned to work.

Her daughters said: “At the age of 100, mum still has a zest for life and a wicked sense of humour.

“It’s been unfortunate that because of Covid she hasn’t been able to go out shopping, for a run in the car or go out to eat, along with a ‘wee dram’, but we cannot thank all the staff at Thorntree Mews for helping to give her a wonderful 100th birthday.”