For Elizabeth Ballantyne Fairley, known to all as Betty, was celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends when Provost Margaret Cooper and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Ali Liaquat visited to add their congratulations.

And making to the occasion all the sweeter were no fewer than 100 of Betty’s favourite chocolates.

Betty was born in Glasgow Maternity Hospital, to Arthur Adie, a tinsmith, and Euphemia, who looked after the home in between part-time jobs, and was joined by her sister Reba two years later.

She was a regular school and church attender and moved on to train and work as an auxiliary nurse studying shorthand and typing.

She worked as a secretary for a number of companies, including the Co-op where she met the man who would become her husband: John Fairley. The pair shared a love of dancing and outdoor pursuits, and married in 1952 in St Paul’s Church, in Glasgow.

They set up home in Dennistoun and, two years later, Betty had her first son, Ian, who was joined five years later by Andrew. The family moved to Johnston in 1960 and then, in 1966, settled in Bothwell, where they remained happily married until John passed away in 1988.

 

As well as loving being grandmother to Adam, Rachael and Kirstin, Betty enjoyed flower arranging, lawn bowling and gardening. She was also a regular member at her local church and the sewing bee. After John died, she liked to go on holidays in the UK and occasionally abroad with friends, and also with Reba.

Sadly, Ian died in 2016 and, in 2019, Betty had an accident at home and spent three months in the Royal Infirmary’s Burns Unit. Needing a greater level of care, she moved into Croftbank House care home, in Uddingston, where Reba had already been staying for a few years.

Betty and Reba caught Covid-19 in December 2020 but both recovered and, after lockdown had been lifted, Betty’s family were able to visit inside again. Unfortunately, Reba died in July 2022 and is still missed by all of the family, especially Betty.

Betty still enjoys regular visits from all her family and most especially enjoys the boxes they bring of Ferrero Rocher, which are a particular favourite – a fact that was marked by the local Aldi store who gifted her 100 of those favourite chocolates for her 100th birthday. In a mark of esteem for the occasion, another local business, Happily Ever After, gave the family a balloon display.

It was at that gathering that Provost Margaret Cooper and Deputy Lieutenant Ali Liaquat visited to add their congratulations on her centenary, with the Provost presenting her with a memorial plaque, flowers and a card from the council, while the Deputy Lieutenant passed on a card on behalf of the King.