Jean marks magnificent milestone
Familyhelpcelebrate100thbirthday
A Blanefield woman reaches the grand old age of 100 today (Friday).
Until recent years Jean Margaret Ditchburn Keddie attended Strathblane Bowling Club and was a regular at Strathblane Kirk.
But due to failing health she doesn’t venture out any more.
Her nephew Danny Muir said this week: “For as long as I can remember, Jean was always there.
“She and her husband Alex were surrogate parents to my brothers and I.
“In a way she replaced the grandmother we never had.
“It still gives me pleasure to recall the many picnics on Loch Lomondside which we had when we were growing up.
“Jean never forgot my birthday and it is a small thing for me to help celebrate her 100th.
“She is a weel kent figure in the Parish of Strathblane, but sadly she is the last of her generation.”
Jean is the last of three siblings Arthur and Victor.
Her mother Mary Muir died in the flu pandemic of 1918 a few months after Jean was born.
Jean’s father Daniel Muir built the Glasgow Road house she lives in and nearby Gamesley, the house where her nephew Kenneth Muir and his wife Shona reside.
Kenneth’s brother John lives in Strathblane and Danny and his wife Margaret live in Gretna in Dumfries- shire. Jean attended Strathblane Primary School and was one of the earliest pupils to attend Balfron High School.
Her predecessors would have attended Lennoxtown for their secondary education.
As a child she spent school holidays at Limekilns in Fife with cousins Johnnie, Andrew and Margaret Armour. Her grandfather John Muir was a Fifer.
After leaving school she looked after her father.
She was married to salesman Alexander Keddie.
Jean was also a member of the WRVS for many years.
Jean’s a weel kent figure in Strathblane, but sadly she’s the last of her generation