Friends throw party for Scotland’s oldest volunteer on her 100th birthday
A special birthday party has been thrown for the oldest volunteer in Scotland at 100 years old.
Doris Keir, from Edinburgh, enjoyed a birthday party thrown by the Scottish Capital’s Lord Provost featuring an afternoon of tea, cake and gifts in the City Chambers.
The 100-year-old ex-council worker has been a loyal volunteer in Edinburgh since the early 1980s - and shows no signs of slowing down.
Every Monday Doris gives up her time to lend a hand at the Northfield and Willowbrae Community Centre.
Her duties include pouring the tea, handing out biscuits, collecting donations and offering support to people suffering from dementia and memory loss.
Doris, who still lives independently, says that she may as well keep volunteering ‘until she drops’.
She said: “It was a very special day. It was lovely to visit the Lord Provost and see the City Chambers, which I’ve never been to before.
“I’ve been a volunteer for 35 years and I’ve enjoyed it. When I retired, I thought I have to do something with myself.
“It has been worth it and if I wasn’t volunteering, I’d be sitting at home and that would be boring.
“I like seeing everyone from the service centre every week, and if anyone is off unwell I like to ring them up and make sure they are okay.
“I’ve been volunteering so long now, I might as well keep going until I drop.”
Doris’ birthday bash was attended by her daughter, son and daughter-in-law.
The generous pensioner was brought up in Colinton and attended James Gillespie’s school, where she sat in the same class as author Muriel Spark.
Paying tribute, Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross called the centenarian an inspiration and said: “Doris is an inspiration to us all and a formidable champion for those suffering from dementia and memory loss in her community.
“Rarely - if ever - do I come across someone who continues to get out and about to volunteer at 100 years old.”