Fire hazard joke sees crews on hand as Ella’s 100 candles lit

CELEBRATION: Centenarian’s family asked firefighters to attend party after long-standing mickey taking over number of candles

Firefighters were called in to help centenarian Ella Low celebrate her birthday after a long-standing joke over the hazard her cake candles would cause.

The resident of Turriff House Residential Home in Dundee has joked with her family for years about the potential for a blaze when she hit 100.

Dressmaker Karen Hamilton, 48, Ella’s granddaughter, said: “It’s a great achievement to reach 100 years and I am very proud of her.

“It’s been a standing joke for years that I would say she would get to be 100 years old but that she would need the fire brigade to help her blow her candles out.

“We had a sing-along and fun and games. Ella always loved a good party and we are keeping the tradition going.

“We asked the fire brigade to attend the party to help blow out the candles in tribute to the family’s candle joke.”

Ella was one of four children born to parents Theresa and William Brander on May 23 1919 in Clepington Road, Dundee, and she had brothers Willie and David and sister Theresa.

Ella went to Cowgate School until she turned 14 and then went to work in a mill. She moved to Timex where her love of cooking came to the fore and she remained there catering for the workers until she retired aged 60.

Ella married boatyard worker Eddie Low on September 7 1939 at Clepington Parish Church in Dundee.

The couple lived in Blackrock Crescent, Mid Craigie, before moving to Craigie Drive. They had three children – Ella who died of whooping cough aged four, an unnamed baby who died a few hours after birth and Irene – Karen’s mother who was born in 1944.

Eddie and Ella were also long term members of Baxter Park Private Bowling Club.

Ella has two grandchildren – Karen, who runs KH Dressmaker on Gardyne Road, and John Walker – plus greatgrandchildren Rachael, Shauni, Michael, Sophie and Maddison.

Dundee Depute Lord Provost Bill Campbell attended the family party at the Rannoch Road residential home.

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Ella always loved a good party and we are keeping the tradition going. KAREN HAMILTON

Pictures: Dougie Nicolson. Ella Low celebrates her 100th birthday with a party in Turriff House Residential Home in Dundee, with Depute Lord Provost Bill Campbell attending and firefighter Chris Proctor.