The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Zoom party celebrations for Fife centenarian.
Former teacher will enjoy online family party
Cupar woman Isobel Hirst will mix traditional music with new technology as she celebrates her 100th birthday tomorrow.
Former teacher Isobel’s planned party was cancelled when the nation went into lockdown but relatives are to connect with her on her big day through video conference platform Zoom and will enjoy some of her favourite music with her.
Her daughter Lorna Hirst said: “We will have a cake and play some tunes for her. Once we are out of lockdown we will have a big party for her.”
Isobel was born in Oban on June 7 1920, and from her family’s flat on the pier witnessed the evacuation of St Kilda when she was 10 years old.
Having been dux at Oban High School, she was persuaded to go to Glasgow for a university education and went into teaching.
Tragically, her first husband was killed during the Second World War after just six months of marriage.
However, Isobel found love again with Cecil, who was a council quantity surveyor, and moved to Cupar in 1955.
She is well known in the town, having taught at both Bell Baxter High School and Elmwood College.
Although she moved in with Lorna for lockdown, Isobel still lives in her own sheltered house and travelled to France at the age of 97 to see one of her two great-grandchildren, Aidan.
Over the last few years she has also been a regular at live traditional music sessions in pubs around Cupar, joining in by playing percussion and singing.
Her family are recording some of her unaccompanied songs from her childhood as a project.
Lorna said her mother had “energy and zest for life” and added: “She has a great love of gardening. I’m sure that is the reason why she is so strong and healthy still.”