Janet was overcome with the attention, not only from her family but also the countless Facebook messages from former pupils.

Janet said: “It was wonderful to read all those wonderful messages from pupils that I had taught over so many years.

“Having had such a wonderful working life has kept me positive all these years.

“And I also think the reason I have lived to reach 100 is that I have always had my family around me.”

Joining Janet to help her celebrate her 100th birthday was Depute Provost Bert Thomson and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Gavin Whitefield CBE.

Janet Cowan Macmillan was born on 23 September 1923 in Addie Street, Motherwell. She was the third child of Peter and Janet Macmillan. Peter was a pattern maker in the Steel Works. 

Janet went to Calder Primary and then onto Dalziel High. While in her last year there she wrote a diary recording home, church and school life during WWII.

She learned to play the piano and guitar and spent many summers working on ‘summer missions’ all over the country with the Church of Scotland.

Janet trained to become a Primary School Teacher at Jordanhill and her first teaching post was at Knowtop, Motherwell.

In 1954 Janet married Maxwell Scott and together they had 3 children, Janice, John and Lesley.

They moved to Larkhall in 1960 when Maxwell became manager of the town’s Co-Op shoe shop.

Janet taught at Glengowan then became Assistant Head in Stonehouse before moving back to the town to take up another Assistant Head’s post at Machanhill.

When she retired in 1982 Janet took up oil painting. She has been living with her youngest daughter Lesley and her family at their home in Larkhall for the past 12 years and the house is now filled with many of her beautiful paintings.

Janet’s family now includes grandchildren Lori and Kris Docherty, Kamran and Daniel Scott, and Aisha Stewart. She is also a Great Gran to Aisha and Paul Stewart’s 20-month-old son Luke. 

And she still finds time to enjoy reading, knitting and spoiling her little dog.

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