A PAISLEY woman celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her family and friends.

Jean Hill, who was born on August 24, 1917, marked the special day with a dinner at the Linwood Farm restaurant.

The great-great-grandmother grew up in Underwood Road, Paisley, and currently lives in the town’s Rowan Street.

She tied the knot with her sweetheart Joe at St James’ Church, also in Paisley, and the couple enjoyed a long and happy marriage before he sadly died in 1991.

The couple had six children, with son Joe the eldest at 78.

He was followed by Jean, Ellen, twins George and Tom and Billy, who has also passed away.

Both Billy and Joe snr, who was a steel worker in Motherwell, were in the family’s thoughts as the 100th birthday bash took place.

Joe jnr also revealed how his parents met.

He said: “My mum had a relative who stayed in Motherwell who she would often visit.

“My dad used to sell ice cream on a horse and cart and they got chatting over a cone.”

As well as raising her six children, Jean worked at Tulloch’s butchers, in Paisley, for 20 years.

In her later years, she got involved in concert party entertaining, which saw her perform monologues, funny stories and poetry to audiences.

Joe added: “She was always interested in writing fictional work and scribbling away in her A4 pad until I taught her how to use word on the computer.

“As well as being a wonderful mum, she was also a Christian lady, always going to church and taking us to Sunday school.”

Jean now has so many grandchildren that Joe struggles to keep count – although a quick estimate was “at least 20.”

The same goes for her great-great grandchildren – totalling around 10, with the youngest being just a few months old.

Joe said: “We had a really great day on her birthday and she received her card from the Queen and Provost Lorraine Cameron.

“She has lived a long and fulfilled life and it is amazing that she can look back on all those years.”

ENDS

The couple had six children, ; Joe is the eldest at 78, then Jean Hamilton, 76, Ellen McCallum, twins George and Tom, 68 and Billy who sadly passed away.

The couple had six children, ; Joe is the eldest at 78, then Jean Hamilton, 76, Ellen McCallum, twins George and Tom, 68 and Billy who sadly passed away.The couple had six children, ; Joe is the eldest at 78, then Jean Hamilton, 76, Ellen McCallum, twins George and Tom, 68 and Billy who sadly passed away.

The couple had six children, ; Joe is the eldest at 78, then Jean Hamilton, 76, Ellen McCallum, twins George and Tom, 68 and Billy who sadly passed away.The couple had six children, ; Joe is the eldest at 78, then Jean Hamilton, 76, Ellen McCallum, twins George and Tom, 68 and Billy who sadly passed away.