And on hand to help Mrs Isabella (Ella) Clark celebrate her centenary were South Lanarkshire’s Depute Provost Bert Thomson and Deputy Lieutenant for Lanarkshire David Russell.

Ella was born Isabella McLachlan Buchanan on 5 July 1923 at 154 Glasgow Road, Nerston, East Kilbride to John and Isabella Buchanan.

Her father was a dairyman running a small farm in the then small village of a dozen or so houses. A few years later, Ella’s baby brother John was born on Christmas Day. She told everyone that Santa had brought him.

Ella went to East Kilbride Primary School and then Hutchesons’ Girls’ Grammar School.

In her early teens Ella fell off a swing and broke her hip which was untreatable then, so she ended up bed-ridden until she was 21.

Many friends and family visited over the years including a boy called Jim Clark from Ayrshire when he was visiting his aunt in Nerston. This became a very close friendship because they married in 1951 at Moncrieff Church in East Kilbride.

Their first house was at 107, Stonefield Road, Blantyre. In 1956 their son Hugh was born followed four years later by Isabelle.

In 1961 they moved to 170 Hamilton Road, Rutherglen where Ella lived for almost 60 years.

Ella was a regular at nearby Wardlawhill Church and became a member of the Young Wives Group and the Women’s Guild.

Ella and Jim travelled far and wide on holiday including the USA, Canada and Europe. They loved cruises – Scandinavia, the Baltic and rivers in Europe being some of their favourite trips. But when asked, the highlight of their trips was always the food.

In 2019 Ella moved into Croftbank House, an easy choice as Jim had been very happy and well cared for there. Ella has enjoyed the resident’s crossword mornings and frequent games of Scrabble with carers and family, many of which she won to her delight.

 

Ella now has grandchildren Jenny and Colin, and three great grandchildren, Agnes, Matt and Eleanor.

If you would like the Provost to attend a Diamond Wedding or 100th birthday please get in touch with the Provost’s Office.