Inverness 'paper boy' and holder of British Empire Medal celebrates 100th birthday
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A former chief prison officer who was awarded the British Empire Medal has celebrated his 100th birthday.
Andrew Aitken, who lives independently at his home in the Scorguie area of Inverness, gathered with family members to mark the occasion.
Until recently, he was known affectionately by neighbours as "the paper boy" in recognition of his good deeds in walking to the Blackpark Filling Station to pick up the daily papers and deliver them with a bright smile and sense of humour.
Mr Aitken was born in Monifieth but following the death of his father when he was young, his mother moved the family back to Inverness from where she originated.
He grew up in the Highland capital, first attending Bell's School in Farraline Park and then the High School which later became the Crown School.
He was in the first intake at the new Technical High School and remembered being amongst the first pupils to get swimming lessons in the new swimming baths at Waterloo.
After leaving school, his first job was as a message boy for the butcher Daniel Vaas MacIver who was located near the back of the former Woolworths store in High Street.
The butcher had three message boys to cover the town and young Andrew's area was Dalneigh. He would cycle there in the mornings noting orders and then deliver the meat.
He then got the opportunity to start a trade as a joiner with Norman Smart and Sons. His first year's pay was 12 shillings for a five-and-half day working week, later rising to 14 shillings.
He spent a considerable time working at Avoch which meant catching the Kessock Ferry back and forth.
He met his future wife, Chris Fraser, in the Caledonian Hotel Ballroom and they were married in September 1956. The couple were married for 61 years until Chris passed away in January 2018.
One of his wife's relatives worked at Polmont Borstal and suggested Mr Aitken should join the prison service.
He did his initial training at Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow and was then posted to Porterfield Prison in Inverness.
He was then sent on detachment duty to Dumfries and ended up being there for 30 years during which time he had several promotions retiring as chief prison officer in 1983.
While there, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his service to the prison service.
After retiring, the couple moved back to Inverness where Mr Aitken spent a lot of time doing voluntary work, delivering meals on wheels.
He is also a member of the Associated Presbyterian Church at Balnafettack.
His many nephews and nieces say they regard him as a "fantastic role model" and on his 99th birthday, a great great great niece was born into the family.
