Real lives: Keeping active is Anne's secret as she hits 100

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 10:07

ANNE LEAN has celebrated her 100th birthday by having two parties with family and friends.

Mrs Lean was born Anne Beattie in the village of Fushiebridge near Gorebridge on 3 November, 1909, and soon moved to the village of Temple, a few miles away.

She celebrated her birthday on Tuesday with a party at Archview Lodge Care Home in Dalkeith, where she has been a resident since January, and also enjoyed another party with family at her son Tom's home in Rosewell on Wednesday.

One of five children, Mrs Lean was top of her class at Temple Primary.

She married Tom Lean – who was a friend of her three brothers – at the Manse in Temple, aged 23. They went on to have four children – Jim, who died aged 66, Evelyn, 73, who travelled from her home in Florida to be with her mum on her birthday, and twins Tom and John, 69.

Mrs Lean also has 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

After marrying, Mr and Mrs Lean moved to a house in Dalkeith. Mrs Lean's father-in-law was the highly respected James Lean who was the first Labour councillor in Dalkeith, and who later became Provost for 20 years.

Mr Lean junior, who had also become a town councillor and magistrate, followed in his father's footsteps as Provost.

Mrs Lean was very active behind the scenes in canvassing for the local labour party. Mr Lean was also a member of Dalkeith Burgh Brass Band for 40 years, of which Mrs Lean was an ardent follower.

After the couple's children left school, Mrs Lean was able to work. She worked in Edinburgh for a year as companion to a doctor's wife, which was followed by a position as a silver table maid with Salvesen.

She also worked in Saxone shoe shop on Princes Street and R&W Forsyth's leather goods shop.

For a short spell around 1964, Mrs Lean worked in a small shop on George 1V Bridge in Edinburgh.

Her son Tom said: "On one occasion a couple of thugs came in armed with knives and demanded money. She faced up to them and chased them off!"

Mrs Lean, who believes keeping active is the secret to her longevity, learned to drive at the age of 57. When Mr Lean retired, they moved to Galashiels where they ran the Craigielea Bed and Breakfast. Mrs Lean retired at the age of 80 and the couple bought a bungalow in Newtongrange.

Sadly Mr Lean died in 1990 at the age of 78.

While living in Galashiels, Mrs Lean attended the local swimming pool and learned to swim at the age of 74. She went on to swim a marathon over several days at the local pool.

Mrs Lean, who was a fine dressmaker, enjoyed dancing and music, and was a member of the Women's Guild in Dalkeith. She loved to travel and visited Canada, America, Saudi Arabia and Holland among many other places.

Mrs Lean was diagnosed with glaucoma 10 years ago and is blind in both eyes.

In her early nineties she sold her house and moved to St Anne's Care Home in Musselburgh.

Just before Christmas last year, Mrs Lean broke her femur and moved to Archview Lodge Care Home in Dalkeith.