Jessie, 102, takes time out from her Wii to open home

Published on Monday 7 December 2009 08:42

THERE was a double celebration at a Capital nursing home as its oldest resident celebrated her 102nd birthday and the ribbon was cut on a new state-of-the-art building.

Jessie Bryce was the guest of honour when the Lorimer House Nursing Home on Lanark Road West was officially opened by the Convener of Pentlands Neighbourhood Partnership, councillor Jason Rust.

Mrs Bryce was the centre of attention on the day as she helped open the new 28-bedroom building.

All residents have moved from the old C-listed home, which is on-site, while it is being refurbished to create more bedrooms.

Mrs Bryce was born in 1907 in St Andrews, but moved to Craiglockhart when she was five and lived there until she moved into Lorimer House seven years ago.

Her father, Alexander Dobie, was a gardener and worked for many years at the Royal Botanic Gardens and her mother, Fanny-Jane Halliday, was a housewife. She also had one sister, Marion Jane.

Mrs Bryce joined the general post office at the age of 17, where she was a telegraphist at the time Morse code was disappearing and she can still remember all the characters of the code.

Five years later she left the GPO to be married to James Bryce, an employee of the Scottish Waterboard, although she returned to work briefly during the war.

She had one son, Ron, 64, who currently lives in Barnton, and was a housewife thereafter.

Amongst her favourite things, Mrs Bryce enjoys playing on her Nintendo Wii, which allows her to keep fit and practice her favourite sports, bowling and golf, on a virtual level. She also enjoys looking out of the window in her room and admiring the view of the Pentland Hills.

As a child, Mrs Bryce's favourite day out was the pantomime at the Theatre Royal. Later in life she loved travelling and would regularly go to the Lake District and walk her dog in Ullswater and today she remains a keen member of Craiglockhart Parish Church.

Manager of Lorimer House, Sean Black, said: "Jessie is a very warm woman and always appreciates what we do for her. She might be 102 but she's sharp as a tack and she is wittier than most people half her age.

"She loves playing the Nintendo and is full of life."

More than 90 people celebrated Mrs Bryce's birthday and the opening of the carehome on Friday.

Mrs Bryce, who turned 102 on 9 October, wore a new cardigan and outfit for Friday's party but refrained from indulging in her favourite tipple, a brandy and lemonade.

The party enjoyed a buffet and an hour-long fireworks display.