A SURPRISE party has been held to mark the 100th birthday of a man who worked with the Co-op for half a century.

Jim Logan, who was born near Drem on December 1, 1917, enjoyed a busy week in marking the milestone birthday.

Family and close friends gathered at The Goblin Ha’, Gifford, where friends from Orkney, where Jim drives each year for a holiday, joined him last Friday before an official party at Carberry Tower.

Gary Logan, Jim’s nephew, told the Courier there were about 40 visitors at the party, including a number of former colleagues from the Co-op – with one friend even travelling from Australia to be part of the celebrations.

Following the meal, entertainment was provided by Leonard Brown and Malcolm Ross, who Jim has travelled across Scotland to watch.

Jim, who lives on Haddington’s Davidson Terrace, started with the Co-op when he was just 15.

His first job was with the Co-op butchers, as he delivered round Haddington on a horse and cart before moving on to a van and delivering throughout East Lothian.

He went on to work with John Anderson, of Anderson’s Quality Butcher in North Berwick.

Jim, who also served in the armed forces in Italy and North Africa during the Second World War, finally retired at the age of 84.

His nephew Gary praised the centenarian and described him as “an inspiration to all around him”.

He said: “He is a very genuine, likeable person.

“He is as sharp as a tack and you cannot pull the wool over his eyes. He has got great intuition for everything, despite his years.

“To me and my sister Linda [Allen], he has been the most generous person ever.”

Gary, who lives in Pencaitland, told the Courier that he still gets regular visits from his 100-year-old uncle.

He said: “Since I was six he has visited every Tuesday and brought food parcels.

“He must make the world’s best jam and fantastic soup. That is what keeps him going I think.

“He has a plan for every day and I think that is the secret to his longevity.”

Tributes were also paid by David MacLeod, the manager of Haddington’s Co-op store on Hopetoun Drive.

Mr MacLeod presented Jimwith a special cake and pictures of Haddington.

He said: “Jimmy drives to the store every day for his groceries and we always enjoy chatting to him about life in Haddington and what he’s been up to.

“When we found out that he had a very big birthday coming up it was a foregone conclusion that we would host a celebration in his honour.

“Jimmy is a terrific character and a big personality within the local community who has lived through some very interesting times here in East Lothian.

“We’re very proud to call him a friend of the store.”

John McNeill, Co-op’s divisional managing director, similarly wished Jim a happy birthday. He said: “We couldn’t possibly let Jimmy’s 100th birthday pass without a celebration – he’s very much part of the Co-op’s story here in Haddington and we are extremely honoured to mark this important milestone.

“From everyone at the Co-op, Jimmy, we wish you a very happy and healthy 100th birthday.”

Gary said Jim, whose wife Nan passed away in 1989 at the age of 61, dotes on his grand-nieces Charlotte, who is four-and-a-half months old – born almost exactly a century apart – and Chloe, and grand-nephews Jonathan, Ryan and Lewis.