Eilean Dubh care home in Fortrose marked a special occasion as resident Cathy Garrow celebrated her 100th birthday.
To mark the day, fun loving Cathy toured Fortrose and Rosemarkie on a trishaw, followed by an ice cream treat at Rosemarkie beach.
She then planted a Prunus Royal Burgundy tree in the Eilean Dubh garden to commemorate her centenary, before enjoying an afternoon of live accordion music with friends and family.
A highlight of the day was the presentation of a card from His Majesty The King, delivered by Andy Townsend, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ross & Cromarty.
Born and raised in Ross-shire, Cathy worked in a farmhouse kitchen during the Second World War.
She shared her memories in a recent podcast to mark VE Day, recalling the dances, the camaraderie, and how life on the farm carried on much as usual.
“It didn’t appear to us that there was war on.
“We just carried on regardless,” she said.
She married at the age of 23 and had two children, Sandra and John.
As they grew up, Cathy worked as housekeeper for General Sir Richard O’Connor, a veteran of both World Wars, at Kincurdie House in Rosemarkie.
She later took on domestic work at the Marine Hotel in Rosemarkie and, in her later years, served as a relief housekeeper at Abbeyfield House, a sheltered housing complex for older people.
Cathy has always enjoyed reading, knitting, whist drives and word games, and she remains devoted to her family, which now includes five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Lucia Matheson, deputy manager at Eilean Dubh, said:
“Cathy is so full of beans and very much adored by everyone here at Eilean Dubh.
“It was a real honour for all of us to celebrate this special day with her and her loved ones.”
Cathy’s daughter, Sandra Jack, later expressed her thanks on Facebook:
“Thank you all for making her day so special.
“She really enjoyed herself.”
