The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Agnes still queen of the keys as she reaches 100
Pianist has been entertaining the people of Arbroath for nine decades
A pianist who entertained people in Arbroath across nine decades has celebrated her 100th birthday.
When Agnes Manzie was just 10 years old she started playing the piano along to silent films at the Olympia Picture Palace in the seaside town.
She was still tinkling the ivories as recently as two years ago, at the age of 98, as part of Arbroath Friendship Club.
Her daughter Lorraine Gorlikowski described her mother’s talent for the piano as a “gift”.
“She played by ear and was earning money from her talent from the age of 10 at the silent movies,” she said.
“She went on to play the piano in her youth and she was much sought-after for all the parties at that time.”
Mrs Manzie was born in Dundee but moved to Arbroath at a young age and attended St Thomas school.
Known to her friends as Nessie, she worked for a short time as a weaver for Francis Webster & Sons Ltd in Arbroath.
Mrs Manzie, who married twice, has two daughters, Lorraine and Joyce, two grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
Lorraine, 68, said her mother stopped playing the piano for a short time after she had children but became part of a popular Arbroath band called the Seasiders, when Lorraine was around 10.
“It was a four-piece band consisting of mum on the piano, two accordions and the drums, and they were very well known,” she said. “They did a lot of weddings and dances in the 1960s. In fact there are elderly ladies in the home who remember my mum from the band.”
When Mrs Manzie was 68 she had a severe stroke and brain haemorrhage which left her paralysed down one side.
However, she worked hard at her rehabilitation to be able to play the piano again.
“She persevered and practised and began to be able to play again and became a member of a concert party and entertained the elderly,” Lorraine added.
“She was playing in the Friendship Club until just a couple of years ago.
“She’s had a lifetime of entertaining people in the town.”
Mrs Manzie was visited by Angus Provost Ronnie Proctor and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Ian Stirling as she celebrated her birthday with family and friends at Seaton Grove Care Home in Arbroath.
Lorraine cited “hard work” as the secret to her mother’s long life.
“Her life has been the piano and music,” she said.
“She has been at the care home for the last 15 years, longer than anyone else.
“She’s still quite mobile but her eyesight and hearing are very poor.
“But she still loves to sing and still has a tinkle on the piano.”