Keep-fit fan Margaret reaches 100
A Perthshire care home resident who participates in weekly exercise classes celebrated her 100th birthday this week.
Margaret Burns, a resident at Balhousie Pitlochry care home, marked the milestone birthday with music, flowers and a cake baked especially by the home’s chef Lionel Ballard.
Margaret also spent time with one of her oldest friends, who is another resident in the care home.
Born in Pitlochry on March 1, 1921, Margaret lived in Blair Atholl and worked in the local post office with fellow resident and life-long friend Janet (Jenny) Macmillan.
Staff at the home organised for Songbook Melodies, a husband and wife singing duo who have been posting online virtual concerts for care home residents to enjoy up and down the country, to record a special message and rendition of‘Happy Birthday’for Margaret.
Margaret participates in the home’s regular exercise sessions, run virtually by Live Active Leisure in Perth. With limited eyesight, she participates in the chair exercises purely with verbal cues.
Humble Margaret asked for a cake and for not too much fuss, but hoped all the staff and residents could enjoy her party.
On living a long and healthy life, Margaret said:“I’ve been very, very lucky in my life. We have to live our lives to its full potential and get the most out of what we have.”
Claire Mackay, home manager at Balhousie Pitlochry care home, said: “We often talk about how our residents bust the myths around what life is like for an older person and Margaret is a remarkable example of this. We all hope she has a lovely day celebrating.”