Margaret's amazing centenary marked

Margaret Reynolds, who has celebrated her 100th birthday, had the big day marked at a party in the Balquhidder House care home in Alexandria.

Her amazing life began on October 24th 1924, when she was born in Bonhill. She went to St Mary’s Primary School in Alexandria and then Notre Dame High in Dumbarton. She was the eldest of the family with a sister and three brothers. Aged 14, Margaret left school and went into service at the Woodbank Hotel in Balloch.

During her time there, news came on the wireless that war in Europe had been declared and Margaret played her part in the war effort, firstly working in the hospital in Helensburgh and then in the munitions inspection department at the Singer factory in Clydebank.

Like many of her generation from the local area, she vividly recalls the failed attempt to bomb the torpedo factory which is along the road from where she now lives. This was thwarted by local men lighting fires in the nearby quarry in Bonhill to give the impression that it was the target for German bombers. To this day bomb craters in the quarry are still visible.

Later, Margaret also worked with prisoners of war and enjoyed jitterbugging at the local dances which gave her a lifelong love of singing and dancing. With so many men fighting overseas, Margaret also guested for the local football team!

After the war ended she went to work in the famous silk factory in Balloch and met her future husband Sam, who had been wounded in France during the war. During her time in the silk factory, Margaret worked on Queen Elizabeth's trousseau using parachute silk for some garments.

Sam and Margaret married in 1948 and went on to have four children, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

For her 80th birthday, her family took her to Rome where they visited the Vatican, which was a great experience for a lady of strong faith.

At her 100th birthday party, a card from the King and Queen was presented to Margaret by Deputy Lieutenant Tom Finnigan MBE. The provost of West Dunbartonshire, Karen Murray Conaghan, presented her with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the local authority.