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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Macdonald & Fionnuala Boyle

Scotland's oldest person says no alcohol is secret to long life as she celebrates 110th birthday

Scotland's oldest person says staying away from alcohol has been the secret to her long life as she marks her 110th birthday.

Marion Dawson reached the landmark age on Thursday, January 19 and told how she has been teetotal all her life.

The great-grandmother, from Houston, Renfrewshire, has survived two world wars, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and the coronavirus pandemic. She received her Covid-19 vaccine jab on her 108th birthday two years ago.

Mrs Dawson only moved out of her own house last year, aged 109, and into the nearby Morar Living care home, where she celebrated her birthday with family, friends and staff members.

In an interview with LBC radio, she said: "I've never touched drink of any kind. That's maybe why I've lived so long. Lemonade is my stretch.

Marion Dawson receiving her coronavirus vaccination on her 108th birthday (Renfrewshire Council / PA Wire)

"I've lived in this village since the day I was born. I didn't want to leave. I'm quite happy. I loved going to school here and being outside playing.

"I remember bits of the Great War and the Second World War. Watching fires from the hill."

Staff who care for Mrs Dawson say she is "the biggest flirt in the home" and she joked that men are "falling over each other" to get to her.

Care home Manager Karen Armstrong said: "It's very good having Marion here, she's a very interesting lady and she keeps all her community connections within the village.

Marion Dawson with Rev Gary Noonan of Houston and Killelan Kirk when she was 107 (UGC)

"She has a lot of friends who come and visit and use the social areas in the home. Her daughter's a very good support to her too and she's living life to the full for a lady of 110.

"Local schoolchildren have even written a play about her. It's a play all about her life and her hobbies and interests so hopefully at some point we'll get them in to perform it."

Mrs Dawson received a birthday dedication message from Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce live on his show.

In a statement, Scottish Women's Institutes said: "We would like to say a huge happy birthday to Marion Dawson, Scotland's oldest woman.

Marion with her late husband Robert (Andrew Neil)
Marion Dawson, posing with a photograph of the Queen, is Scotland's oldest woman (Andrew Neil)

"Marion is a member of Houston and Crosslee SWI and was born on 19 January 1913. Wow! She has lived through so many world events and times of change for women and Scotland."

Mrs Dawson was wife to the late Robert, mother to Jean and Allan, as well as a grandmother of two and great-grandmother of two.

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