Helensburgh's Isa MacKinnon celebrates 100th birthday

Grey Matters organised the bash at The Bridge on Friday for her 100th birthday full of family and friends to celebrate a much-loved member of the group and community.

The afternoon started with a formal presentation of the card from the King and Queen by Deputy Lieutenant Gill Aitkenhead.

There were then a few short speeches and home baking, music, entertainment and trips down memory lane.

Isa arrives for her surprise

Isa arrives for her surprise

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Grey Matters' Alison Gildea said: "The party went brilliantly and Isa had no idea. Grey Matters Active Ageing members got together to raise money for a Christmas light for Isa. She is such a lovely person, she lights up any room and now she will light up Colquhoun Square.

"Our sincere thanks to Vivien Dance from the Festive Lights Charitable Trust and Gill Aitkenhead, Lord Lieutenant for joining us and making the event even more special."

Irene Stephenson added: "The members and friends of GMAA enjoyed a lovely party with cake and music celebrating our friend Isa's 100th birthday."

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Vivien Dance told the Advertiser: "Grey Matters did Isa proud, a wonderful party for a truly delightful birthday girl, and she enjoyed every minute of the memorable afternoon.

"She said afterwards how lovely it was to see everyone gathered together and amazed that all this had all been done in her honour and without her knowing.

"She especially liked the meringues."

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa was born on October 26, 1924 in Airdrie to William and Isabella McPhail. Her father worked as a wagon repairer on the railway and the family moved to Cardross when Isa was a toddler.

They moved to Helensburgh more than 95 years ago and Isa has been there ever since.

After leaving school at 16, she worked at such famed venues as Central Hotel Glasgow and Glenagles.

She then became an apprentice upholsterer at Kerrs of Helensburgh.

Her parents bought her a Singer sewing machine, which she still has, and has made countless curtains and loose covers for homes across the area over the years.

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa's children remember coming home from school on many days to be given a magnet to go round and pick up the pins from the carpet.

After raising the family Isa returned to Kerrs as sewing room supervisor and it was only when Kerrs closed their sewing room in the mid-1980s that she retired.

Isa married navy man Thomas - known as Tom or Tam - after the war and settled in Helensburgh. They became the first tenants of the new homes built on Stuckleckie Road and welcomed five children: Gladys, William, Alistair, Roderick and Gail.

Mum is now a proud grandmother and great grandmother to many.

She ran the lunch club and coffee club at the Clyde Street Centre twice a week for many years, and love to organise days out on bus trips.

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

Isa MacKinnon's 100th birthday party with Grey Matters

She was described as the "life and soul" of any party and remains keen to enjoy any social occasion.

Vivien added: "She is amazing for her age, still living independently and getting out and about just about every day of the week.

"Isa lives in the centre of town, moving from Birch Cottages to take up residence in her mother's former house on King Street as this move meant she can walk round the corner into town pushing her very famous wee walker which now proudly sports the number plate ISA 100.

"What an achievement, well done young lady, Helensburgh is very proud of you and wishes you many, many more happy birthdays."