Mary Maguire celebrated 100th birthday surrounded by family

A special tea party marked the occasion last Monday, topped off with the delivery of a birthday card from the King and a moving reflection on her life.

Mary was born on October 6, 1925, in Bolton, Greater Manchester, which at the time was one of the largest cotton spinning centres in the world.

She left school at the age of 14 to become a seamstress, working at a large textile factory.

By then it was the start of the Second World War and they shifting to making army uniforms.

Aged 18, Mary then joined the NAAFI – the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute – serving the armed forces to support the troops in active service.

She worked in Blackpool and later moved around to Wales, Belgium and Hamburg.

It was there that she met Scots guard Robert Maguire and, six months later, she was on a train to Glasgow to meet Robert’s family.

The couple married in 1947 and subsequently made Glasgow their home, where they would raise a family of seven children: Robert, Kate, Eileen, Maria, Louise, Maureen and Frank.

They had a "happy and busy home" together; family has always been the most important part of Mary’s life and she cherishes time spent with her loved ones, including 17 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, with one more on the way.

Sitting pride of place in her home are their many graduation photos.

Her husband passed away in 1995 and Mary later moved from Glasgow to Carlyle Court, Haddington, which she has called home for the past 12 years.

Her neighbours came together with her family at Carlyle House Café for her 100th birthday and East Lothian’s Lord Lieutenant Roderick Urquhart, the King’s representative, joined the gathering to celebrate “a very special day for a very special person”.

He said: “You and your late husband created a wonderful legacy.

“You can be proud of what you have achieved and what in turn your family have achieved.”

Upon moving to East Lothian, Mary quickly made herself at home, regularly singing with the church choir and taking on volunteering roles.

Maureen, Mary’s daughter, said: “Reaching a century requires good genes and good health, but community is a big factor as we know in not just living to a good age, but living it cheerfully.

“Community is what gives us life. Community is what Mary found here when, at the young age of 88, she moved to Haddington all the way from Glasgow.”

The Lord Lieutenant told guests the story of Mary’s life so far and shared that Haddington reminded her of where she grew up.

He said: “You have given generously your time to this town.

“I’m told that Haddington has been kind to you but you in turn have been good for Haddington – an inspiration and an example to many.”

He presented Mary with a card from the King to commemorate the occasion, adding: “It’s my honour to convey His Majesty’s best wishes to you in front of your family and friends.”

At the occasion surrounded by family, Maureen raised a toast to Mary as “not just the star of the day but the star of the century”.