The skirl of the pipes was heard as piper Emma Meechin gave a special rendition of happy birthday as she escorted Susie Stewart from the Lord Lieutenant’s office to deliver Mary’s telegram.

The Lord Provost Alastair Carmichael and pupils from Cross Arthurlie Primary were also on hand and presented flowers to mark Mary’s magical milestone.

Mary, who has three grand children and two great grandchildren, was born on June 25, 1914 and was one of nine children in her family. She attended Cross Arthurlie primary school before leaving as a 14-year-old to work at Fereneze Laundry. A hand injury brought her work there to a premature end before she went on to work at Askit Bakery.

Mary has lived through two World Wars, she was born just six weeks before the German Empire invaded Belgium and the declaration of World War I.

She married Andrew Maltman in 1935 and they went on to have three sons; Ian, James and Andrew.

Tragically, the boys’ father who was in the Royal Navy during World War II, was killed in service when the destroyer HMS Eridge was torpedoed off the coast of Egypt on August 29, 1942. Mary was left to bring their three young boys up on her own. Mary’s only surviving son Andrew was with his mum and her friends at The Firs as she celebrated her very special day. He said: “My mum brought us up on her own – she had a hard life. I wasn’t even a year old when my father was killed and my oldest brother Ian was disabled and in a wheelchair. She never remarried or took another man.” Martha Murray, The Firs Nursing Home manager, said: “We all had a great day celebrating Mary’s birthday, she received lots of cards and presents from friends and family. We even managed a bit of dancing as local singer Teri provided some musical entertainment.