A 100-year-old woman with no relatives nearby has marked her 100th birthday with a touching party put together by the local community.
Maureen Moss marked the milestone occasion at Davidson's House care home in Colinton, Edinburgh on Friday April 7. The centenarian, who became a widow just weeks before her birthday, was showered with gifts from locals after nurses at the home made a plea to recognise her big day.
Care home activities leader Karolina reached out to the community to ask if anyone could send her flowers and cards. Edinburgh Live reports that local residents and schoolchildren responded with reams of birthday cards, and some popped in to join the pensioner for a cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake.
Staff at the Salvation Army-run care home have been overwhelmed by the response. Maureen herself even shed a tear when locals came by to wish her a happy birthday and leave her cards and gifts.
Karolina said: "I saw people advertising for other care homes, to send cards and things like that, so I thought it would be nice. I posted on Facebook to see if anyone wanted to send anything but then people started asking if they could come by.
"Her husband died a few weeks ago and it would have looked very differently if he was here. They would have done something, just the two of them.
"But Maureen is so friendly and she loves company. And it's not every day you turn 100!"
Maureen has no family nearby since the death of her husband, and her nearest relations are nieces that live in England. Fortunately, she was kept company by locals including youngster Adam, five, who gave her one of his own keyrings as a gift.
The pensioner was born in Gibraltar in 1923 and went on to work in the British Navy during the Second World War. She then studied at a university in India.
She and her late husband chose not to have children of their own, instead travelling the world. And as is traditional, she received a birthday card from King Charles III and the Queen Consort congratulating her on the rare anniversary.
Charles is the fifth monarch Maureen has seen sit on the throne, after King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. She has also seen 25 prime ministers come and go in her lifetime.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
