Betty’s own music on her final journey
Tributes have been paid to Elizabeth W McEwan, who died on February 9, 2021 having recently celebrated turning 100.
In November last year, Betty McEwan (nee Elizabeth Wilson Carmichael) was the first of her family to reach 100 years of age.
Born November 23, 1920, Betty was brought up in the Dunbarney schoolhouse, Bridge of Earn, where her father was the local headmaster.
She learned to master many disciplines of young life in a village which were to stand her in good stead in life.
Growing up in this pleasant rural environment with three brothers and two sisters, many happy days were spent swimming, playing tennis, cycling and being involved in events organised at The Institute, the community centre of the village.
She achieved success at Perth Academy, particularly in sports and languages.
As yet another pastime, Betty and elder sister Myra took piano lessons, finding not only a lifetime pleasure but, unknowingly then, for Betty, a much-needed income.
Her style was distinctive, encouraged by Leslie Hutchinson’s long-distance tuition course, “Hutch” being known as a high society idol of the 1920s/30s.
As a young pianist, an artistic apprenticeship would lead many years later to The McEwan Trio, well-known locally in and around Perthshire and Fife.
Betty loved fun and frivolity, fancy dress and silky scarves, old films – Fred and Ginger, of course.
She especially loved the thrill of the chase, any chase – ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps,’ ‘Ice Cold in Alex’, our beloved Sean Connery in any Bond film.
She could be feisty too: woe betide anyone interrupting her own ‘star’ appearance as an extra in ‘Chariots of Fire’, a distinguished lady in black hat and white lace jabot cheering on runners from a ringside track in the hills above Crieff.
She loved being part of that film - a sprint champion herself, what else would anyone expect?
Sometimes, Betty knew depression, despair and destitution. Solace was found in music, gardening and her own little family of five. And, of course, the new generation arriving year on year.
We also saw a steely determination and dignity.
Loneliness was often a sad companion but the wonderful care and friendship she knew at the Ochil Care Home in the last seven years of her life seemed to overcome overwhelming sadness and we applaud their care.
Recently, in a quiet, calm space, we exchanged our own memories - some quirky, some endearing.
Her cottage and beautiful garden in Lunan Bay and Siamese cats Tolly and Baba were mentioned by many, well-remembered with love.
At Betty’s farewell, we wanted to include the only known, very short recording we had of her piano playing.
Thus, as the crematorium curtains closed, Betty slowly left us to the sound of her own soulful chords playing one of her best-loved tunes, the story of Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘Skylark’.
Her best friends, Mhairi, KB and Gerda would be waiting for her, having gone ahead some years earlier.