An Ayrshire woman celebrated her 105th birthday yesterday surrounded by loved ones.
Catherine (Katie) Fulton Macdiarmid marked the milestone with a special birthday party with family and staff at Templeton House Care Home in Ayr, where she lives and is the oldest resident.
She was presented with a card from The Queen by Deputy Lieutenant Nigel Martin — making it her fifth card from Her Majesty.
Katie, who has lived through two World Wars and two pandemics, has three children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was born in Kilmarnock on April 5, 1917 and moved to Prestwick Toll aged two.
Katie was Dux of Prestwick Public School, receiving a gold medal and a set of four books — works of Sir Walter Scott — as her prize.
After leaving school aged 14, Katie got a job in local bakery shop doing menial tasks before becoming a ‘clippie’ on the buses aged 18, with her favourite route being the Glasgow/ Newton Street run.
She married John, who has since passed away, in September 1939 aged 22, and the couple had three children together.
Katie brought up the kids and went on to work part time in retail.
And as a young mother, she joined the Mothers Union Amateur Society where she enjoyed acting in their various productions in the church hall.
Katie enjoyed her garden, which was always neat with colourful displays, and also enjoyed sewing, making clothes and curtains on her Singer sewing machine.
And she is known for enjoying a scenic walk, as she hardly ever took the bus into town, preferring to walk- much to the disgust of any stayover grandchild.
When asked what her advice for life would be, Katie said: “Take things as they come.
“Live within your means and be kind to others.”
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
