Scotland’s oldest woman dies at age 109

Scotland’s oldest woman, Flora Smith, has died at the age of 109.

Mrs Smith passed away at the Antonine Nursing home in Bearsden, her home since 2015.

Mrs Smith, known as Flo, shared a birthday with the Queen – 21 April – and had received eight birthday telegrams from the monarch, all of which were framed and hanging on her wall at the nursing home, according to friends.

She died on 3 August, and is survived by her son Alastair. She was married to husband Alex for 50 years, and spent most of her life living in Clarkston.

Mrs Smith was the oldest suriving alumnus of Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow, starting at the primary school in Kingarth Street at the outbreak of the First World War – just two years after it opened its doors.