Mearns centenarian’s special delivery from postie granddaughter

CELEBRATION: Mearns woman’s delight after handing over royal telegram to grandmother to celebrate her big day

A Mearns postie has made the most special delivery of her career with the safe handover of a royal telegram on her grandmother’s 100th birthday.

Jackie Bremner’s role in Laurencekirk has seen her be the bearer of eagerlyawaited post including letters from loved ones and exam results for the area’s schoolchildren.

The most important stop on her round yesterday was the Burnside nursing home where her grandmother Elizabeth Cruickshank was surrounded by family and friends for her day of centenary celebrations – and the allimportant arrival of the congratulatory telegram from the Queen.

Born at Invercarney, Fyvie, in the north-east at 1.30pm on September 19 1919, Elizabeth was one of 12 siblings.

She married her sweetheart Charles at the age of 18 in December 1937 and the couple lived at Candy of Drumlithie, before moving to Angus and settling at Blubber Hill, near Aberlemno, where they started their family.

They went on to have nine children – four girls and five boys – and later moved to Murphy Den where Elizabeth was a seasonal worker and Charles went out to work on the farms.

Their life revolved around their family and a total of 20 grandchildren, with Elizabeth now also a great-gran and great-great-gran.

They retired to Panmure Road in Montrose before Chae’s passing in 1985.

Elizabeth then moved to Balmain Court in Montrose, before moving to Burnside in Laurencekirk after she developed dementia.

Although some of the family now reside in France and New Zealand, many are still local and they joined in the Laurencekirk celebrations after the first class delivery made by Jackie to the nursing home.

Pictures: Kris Miller.