Annie gets a double party for her 100th birthday

A GREAT-grandmother is getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday by having two parties with family and friends.

Annie Murray will mark the special occasion on Thursday with a party at Balfour Court sheltered housing, where she has lived for 17 years, as well as having another bash at her daughter's home in Corstorphine on Sunday.

Mrs Murray was born at the family home in Edinburgh and was one of six children born to Margaret and William Harper.

She grew up in Abbeyhill, where she spent most of her life, and was a pupil at Abbeyhill Primary School.

Her first job after leaving school was at Thynes the printers on Marionville Road, where she worked as a paper bag maker until marrying.

Mrs Murray's husband-to-be Jim Murray lived on the street where she worked, and after meeting the couple discovered they both had a passion for golf.

They married at the manse in Regent Terrace on 18 April 1936 and went on to have two children, Margaret, 72, and Tom Murray, 68.

Mrs Murray has four grandchildren, Gordon, 49, Carolyn, 44, and twins Graeme and Fraser, 29 as well as three great-grandchildren - Harris, 16, Florence, 11, and Cameron, 9.

After the couple's children were born, Mrs Murray became a stay-at-home mum and did not return to employment.

Meanwhile, the late Mr Murray spent all his working life as a joiner for Scottish Brewers in Edinburgh.

He took early retirement around the age of 59 due to ill health, and died after suffering a stroke at the age of 65.

The couple's daughter, Margaret Millar, who visits her mother at Balfour Court at least three times a week, said: "My mum used to play tennis when she was younger and she was a great bowler, both indoor and outdoor.

"She was a member of Milton Street Ladies Bowling Club and she won numerous trophies.

"She still goes for a walk on her own every day, depending on the weather, and she likes watching sport - football, tennis and bowling - and quiz programmes on television."

She added: "My mum is reasonably healthy, she's pretty deaf and her eyesight's not good, but other than that she's fine.

"She is very independent and she has a good sense of humour."

Mrs Millar, a retired secretary, said she was having difficulty choosing a present for her mother's big day.

"We've got her bits and pieces and she'll probably get a big bouquet of flowers from the people at Balfour Court," she added.

"I think she's looking forward to her parties. There will be a buffet at the party at Balfour Court and entertainment, which I think will be an accordionist."