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Kiltarlity woman celebrates 100th birthday


By Louise Glen

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Martha Milne celebrates her 100th birthday.
Martha Milne celebrates her 100th birthday.

The secret of long life for a Kiltarlity centenarian is abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes – but enjoying the sweet stuff – she says.

Martha Milne (100), originally from Renfrew, was a World War II munitions worker during the blitz, and moved with her daughter Margaret and son-in-law Tom Russell to the village some 25 years ago.

Mrs Milne celebrated her birthday at home, with gifts of flowers and sweeties, as well as greetings from all over the country and a card from the Queen.

Mr Russell said his mother-in-law, a former grocery shop manager, was “one in a million” and that while her celebration was small due to the Covid restrictions, the family marked the day with banners and a cake with neighbours coming to the patio window to pass on their birthday wishes.

Mr Russell said: “She would say that her long life is down to being a life-long abstainer from alcohol, and she has never smoked.

“However, she has a sweet tooth, and has a ‘sweetie drawer’, and can always make room for pudding.”

Mrs Milne (nee Porter) was born on January 18, 1921 and was raised in Renfrew.

Martha Milne celebrates her 100th birthday.
Martha Milne celebrates her 100th birthday.

Living within one mile of the Clydebank blitz, Mrs Milne first worked in the war effort as an air raid precautions (ARP) officer, helping to keep civilians safe from the danger of bombs, until she was called up to work in the munitions industry.

“For the rest of the war she worked at Babcock and Wilcox in Renfrew,” Mr Russell said.

In 1943, Martha married John Milne on Hogmanay and they had one daughter a couple of years later. Sadly, Mr Milne died in 1951.

After the war, Martha worked in retail mainly with the Co-op and was promoted to manager of a grocery branch where she remained until she retired in 1981.

“After the death of her husband, Martha went back to live with her parents and became their carer while still in full-time employment,” said Mr Russell, who married Margaret in 1968.

After Mr Russell took ill in 1995 and then lost his job the following year, it was decided that to make ends meet, the family would sell their two houses in the central belt and buy in Inverness-shire.

Mrs Milne on her wedding day in 1943.
Mrs Milne on her wedding day in 1943.

“Martha’s sister Margaret joined the emigration to the north, as did my own mother Jean,” Mr Russell said.

“My wife and I do not have any siblings, so we became in effect the carers for the three seniors.

“Martha is now the only one remaining.

“We all came to love our new life in the north and have been fortunate with our neighbours and friends here in Kiltarlity.

“Martha has been, and still is, a mainstay of the house, who throughout her life has set high standards and is a wonderful example to us all.

“We would like to say thank you to everyone who helped to make her birthday special.”

To read more community celebrations click here.


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