Salen’s Mona Brown celebrates reaching 100
JUST A month after women over 30 got the vote for the first time in Britain and little more than two months since US troops fought one of the last battles of the American Indian Wars, a baby girl was born into a Lancashire family on March 18, 1918.
She was born into a world battered by four years of slaughter in the trenches on the Western Front, but one which also saw the birth of such great future stars as film director Ingmar Bergman and composer Leonard Bernstein.
On Sunday that century of a life-well-lived was celebrated by the family and friends of Mona Brown, of Salen.
Among the 70 or more guests at the special celebration tea held in Ardsheallach Lodge, Acharacle, was Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire Iain Thornber, who was on hand to present Mrs Brown with her congratulatory telelgram from HM The Queen.
It was after having been in Salen while on holiday that Mrs Brown and her husband, Leonard, decided they would like to make their lives in that part of the Highlands and so built their new home there and moved in during 1976. And Mrs Brown has lived there ever since. Sunday’s celebrations were attended by close family of Mrs Brown, including her second cousin, Jeff Irving, and his daughter, Viv Taylor, from Blackpool.
The special event was organised by the community, with various short speeches given, pointing out that Mrs Brown was born as the First World War was coming to an end and she reached the age of 21 as the Second World War broke out.
Mrs Brown was presented with the three sections of her special birthday cake by local children, shaped to depict the number 100. Apart from making up the number, each individual section represented the past, the present and the future.
Mrs Brown was also commended on her positive attitude and always having a big, enthusiastic smile.
The party was preceded by a service in Acharacle’s Church of Scotland led by Reverend Fiona Ogg, who had decorated the church with balloons down each side of the aisle and a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner. Members of the congregation had also brought in potted flowers.
The whole event came as a surprise to Mrs Brown and none more so than when Mr Thornber produced one of HM The Queen’s famous birthday cards for centenarians and passed on the monarch’s best wishes.
Mrs Brown was also presented with a bouquet of flowers by Councillor Andrew Baxter, leader of The Highland Council in Lochaber and letter of congratulations from Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford.
A clearly delighted Mrs Brown told the Lochaber Times: ‘I am totally surprised by what has been done for me here and would like to thank you all.
‘I am also delighted with the card from The Queen, which is wonderful - doesn’t she just look great on it?’
Asked what her secret was for such a long life, Mrs Brown replied: ‘I have no secret for living to 100 - only that I don’t think about age and take every day as it comes.’
Rev Ogg added: ‘Mona is a very enthusiastic member of the church and popular member of the community.
‘I know she will be coming along to the next session of ‘Messy Church’ this week, doing crafts and speaking with the children.’