Few people are fortunate enough to reach their centenary birthday, let alone enter their 110th year, but that is the milestone Ailsa Stewart achieved last week.
The Second World War veteran, who is currently Scotland’s second oldest person, celebrated her December 21 birthday last Thursday, with family, friends, carers and staff at Lorne Campbell Court, where she lives.
Her fun-filled birthday bash featured music from Kevin McMillan, Cameron Campbell and Kintyre Schools Pipe Band piper Rio Arkell, as well as performances from James McCorkindale School of Dancing students Korri McMillan, Taylor McMillan, Amelie McTaggart, Emma Johnston, Abigail McAllister and Halle Gilchrist.
Argyll and Bute’s Lord-Lieutenant, Jane MacLeod, attended the party and presented Mrs Stewart with a congratulatory card on behalf of King Charles III, as well as a bouquet of flowers.
Mrs MacLeod said it was a privilege to join Mrs Stewart on such a significant day and complimented her on her good health and determination.
The Lord-Lieutenant also pointed out how proud the community of Campbeltown and, indeed, Argyll and Bute are of Mrs Stewart and that, once again, she hoped to be presenting a similar bouquet next year.
Mrs MacLeod handed over to Councillor Jennifer Kelly, Argyll and Bute Council’s newest elected member, who attended on behalf of Argyll and Bute’s Provost, Councillor Maurice Corry.
Councillor Kelly said: “I was delighted to present Mrs Stewart with flowers on behalf of the Provost of Argyll and Bute Council and to wish her a very happy 109th birthday.”
Catriona Smith, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) team lead (resources) for Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, presented Mrs Stewart with a third bunch of flowers, this time on behalf of the HSCP and all the staff and residents at Lorne Campbell Court.
“Ailsa has been with us for a number of years, within Lorne Campbell Court, and we were delighted to be able to able to celebrate with her,” said Mrs Smith. “She is very fondly thought of by everybody and I think you can tell that by the amount of people who attended her party.”
She added: “We would like to add thanks to the Co-op and Tesco for their kind donations to the residents within Lorne Campbell Court, and a thanks to the staff for all their hard work in organising a fabulous afternoon of entertainment.”
Mrs Smith added: “An extended thanks goes to the Royal Hotel which has kindly donated a Christmas meal to all in Lorne Campbell Court.”
No party is complete without cake, and home care organiser Sarah Livingstone did the honours and presented Mrs Stewart with a large gateau, topped with candles indicating her impressive age.
Outside, it may have been raining with strong gusts of wind, but Lorne Campbell Court was cosy and warm as party-goers tucked into a buffet lunch before the entertainment resumed.
Still as sharp as ever, Mrs Stewart took time during the afternoon to speak to and thank each of her visitors and all the youngsters who performed during the party.
Her son Patrick, Argyll and Bute’s previous Lord-Lieutenant, thanked all those involved with the celebration, and said his mother particularly enjoyed the performances by the young dancers and piper, who she described as having “great talent”.
“We were very touched by the staff and council’s arrangements for the party and not just for that, but for their very good care throughout the year,” said Mr Stewart.
“We are also very grateful to the Lord-Lieutenant for making the journey from Lochgilphead on such a rough day.”
The Campbeltown Courier was just 41 years old when Mrs Stewart was born in 1914, in then British-ruled India, where her father was serving with the British Army.
The newspaper’s staff were honoured to be joined by Mrs Stewart at a celebration of the publication’s 150th anniversary earlier this year, during which she cut the cake.
Mrs Stewart has lived an eventful life, working as a torpedo assessment specialist with the Women’s Royal Naval Service during World War Two.
This eventually led her to the RN Air Station at Machrihanish, and it was in Kintyre that she met her future husband, Archibald Ian Balfour (AIB) Stewart CBE BL, a solicitor and procurator fiscal for Kintyre, Islay, Jura and South Knapdale at the time.
The couple married in October 1944 and later welcomed three sons, Patrick, Angus and Johnny, all of whom followed in their father’s footsteps and became lawyers.
Mrs Stewart became a very valued member of the community, taking on roles within several local groups and charities throughout the years.