Oban Times reader Mary Greaves has celebrated her 102nd birthday.
Despite leaving Oban for Yorkshire years ago, getting married and having three children, Mary has always stayed in touch with the town – helped by her weekly copy of The Oban Times.
Friends and family travelled from Duror, Edinburgh, Helensburgh, Isle of Mull, Yorkshire and Oban to celebrate her big day at The Falls of Lora Hotel in Connel.
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Mary was born in the McKechnie’s Temperance Hotel in George Street, Oban, in 1921. Her family later moved to Croshval in Soroba Road. She went to Rockfield Primary School and Oban High School before studying at Edinburgh University.
Her father, Neil McKechnie, was in the First World War and in the next war joined the Merchant Navy after an urgent appeal for volunteers. He was killed by enemy action on the SS Harlesden on February 22 1941, aged 56, and is remembered on Oban War Memorial.
While Mary went to a Yorkshire factory for war work looking after the welfare of workers, her brother Neil received many awards for gallantry while on active service abroad. Her sister Katie was in work supporting returning injured soldiers in London and Blackpool.
“These changes altered locations of families, dislocating them from Oban and she remained in Yorkshire.
“However Mary retained a care for Oban and a connection to her home town that has never been broken. This has been supported by reading a copy of the weekly Oban Times over all these years.
“Her temperance birthplace and her early upbringing did not lessen her love of the product from Oban distillery. She has been promised that on another occasion there will be a chance to taste the best whisky Oban has to offer. Thanks to everyone at The Falls of Lora for making it a great celebration,” said Rosemary Greaves.