Paisley Daily Express

Edith turns 100 ... but there’s no stopping this great gran

Much-loved centenaria­n enjoys her lockdown birthday

- ALISON RENNIE

A centenaria­n celebrated her milestone birthday in style with a cake, balloons, flowers and some traditiona­l tunes from a bagpiper ... all in a car park.

Great-gran Edith Shand turned 100 yesterday and, despite lockdown restrictio­ns, managed to enjoy a short, socially distanced celebratio­n.

Her daughter Vivien Bradley, 73, lives with Edith in Erskine and said it was a lovely thing to celebrate.

She said: “It’s quite a milestone to reach, when you think every part of her is 100 years old!

“She’s very bright and can look after herself. We walk to the shops every day – she walks with a wheelie walker, and she enjoys getting her cakes. We’ve both had our vaccine now, so that’s good.

“She’s quite good for her age. “Before lockdown, we had something on every day, whether it was bingo or getting the bus into Paisley or Clydebank.”

Edith, who is one of seven siblings, grew up in London and was stationed in Scotland during the war when she worked for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAFFS).

She met William Shand during the Second World War and, after she was demobbed in 1946, they married and settled in Paisley.

They had two children, Billy, who sadly passed away in 1992, and Vivien.

William worked as a painter and decorator while Edith worked as a cashier for Clydesdale Bank and also for a TV rental shop.

Billy passed away in 1987 and Edith has four grandchild­ren and four great-grandchild­ren who are dotted around the world in Dubai, England and also in Paisley.

Vivien moved in with her mum in 2008 and said the company has helped them both, particular­ly during the recent lockdown.

“She’s always asking to go out,” laughed Vivien. “She says she’s fed up, but then so am I.

“It’s nice we’ve got each other. We wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise.

“She said it’s been worse than the war. At least then you could see people, it wasn’t a case of staying away from everybody. You felt more free.

“My mum likes to get out and about.”

Edith has been receiving footcare from Roar for the past couple of years and is looking forward to it starting back up again one restrictio­ns start to ease.

Clare Robertson, Roar’s Stay Mobile Stay Connected coordinato­r, said: “Edith is such a lovely person, she always has a

Clare, from Roar, presents Edith with her bouguet

smile for you. you

“She has been coming along to one of our services for the last two

yearsandev­eryoneatRo­arandall years and everyone at Roar and all the footcare team are wishing her a very special Happy Birthday.

“We are looking forward to seeing Edith back once the restrictio­ns have lifted.”

 ??  ?? Wedding day Edith and William
Milestone Edith enjoyed her outdoor celebratio­ns for her
special birthday
Wedding day Edith and William Milestone Edith enjoyed her outdoor celebratio­ns for her special birthday
 ??  ?? Much loved From left, grandson Mark , Edith, Vivien, great-granddaugh­ters Mirren Bradley and Holly Shand, and grandson Colin
Always smiling
Celebrate Edith enjoyed
the bagpiper
Much loved From left, grandson Mark , Edith, Vivien, great-granddaugh­ters Mirren Bradley and Holly Shand, and grandson Colin Always smiling Celebrate Edith enjoyed the bagpiper

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom