The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Terrific trio pay Sheena a visit
Alf, 107, Jessie, 105 and relative youngster Willhelmina, 103, pop in for tea and a chat
With a combined age of 315, Alf Smith, Jessie Sinclair and Willhelmina Reid are among the oldest people in Scotland.
Together they have seen the sinking of the Titanic, two World Wars, man landing on the moon and the advent of the world wide web.
In that time there have been four monarchs on the British throne and 24 prime ministers in Westminster. Additionally there have been five First Ministers since the devolution of parliament in 1999.
Despite their advanced age, the trio have all lived independently until recently. However, while Alf and Jessie still live in their own homes, Willhelmina or Neen as she is known moved into a Perth nursing home a year ago.
Yesterday the three oldest residents of Perth and Kinross came together for a special tea party at the St Madoes home of a mutual friend.
Sheena Baptie embraced the “unique” opportunity to bring the three centenarians together.
She said: “Jessie I have known all my life, I was born and brought up in Dunkeld (where Jessie lives). I have known Alf a long time because he lives in St Madoes and Neen is from Abernyte so I’ve known her a long time too.
“I wanted to bring them together because it’s so unique – three people I know who are all over 100.”
Alf, who at 107 is Scotland’s oldest man, quickly discovered that he had been the one-time work colleague of 103-year-old Willhelmina’s brother.
He spent much of his working life driving lorries, but in the 1930s he worked on the region’s roads, where he knew Neen’s sibling.
Along with Jessie, who turned 105 last month, the pair tucked into a spread of cakes and sandwiches while discussing their lives in different parts of the region.
Jessie said she had “very much” enjoyed meeting Alf and Neen, adding the tea party “made me feel young”.
She said: “I don’t get out a lot but I’ve really enjoyed myself, I’ve had a great chat.”