TWO women from Renfrewshire have finally been able to celebrate their 18th birthdays, thanks to the leap year.
Ann McKenzie, from Johnstone, and Tricia Ferguson, of Linwood, had to wait 72 years to reach the landmark age as, officially, the calendar dictates their birthdays only happen every four years.
To mark the special day, Ann’s daughter Jane took her mum to Edinburgh for a slap-up meal and a memorable night out at the theatre.
Jane, 41, said: “My two sons Colin and Logan and I wanted to do something special for her birthday. We took her to see The Lion King after a lovely meal at The Booking Office in the capital.”
Leapers, leaplings and leap babies are just some of the names given to people who beat odds of one in 500 to be born on February 29.
“I find it fascinating,” Ann said. “My neighbours’ daughter was born on a leap year and this is her first birthday.”
Tricia was treated to a holiday around Ireland by her son, who stays on the Emerald Isle.
Her daughter Tracy said: “She went over last week to visit my brother. He took her on trips round Belfast, Dublin and Kildare. She went to the Titanic Museum.”
Like Ann, Tricia was also treated to a show for her birthday.
“She went to The Swing Cats in Naas, in Ireland,” added Tracy. “It’s all the 50s and 60s music she really enjoys.”
On Tricia’s return from her holiday, Tracy, her two sons and her daughter visited with 18th birthday balloons and cards.
“We always do something special with her for her birthday, whether it’s a leap year or not,” said Tracy. “It doesn’t really bother her that she was born in a leap year, as she usually celebrates her birthday on March 1.
“She got some lovely presents – jewellery, clothes and a plant. We went round with a takeaway and a cake and she wondered why she had so many 18th cards but it was because people saw my post on Facebook.”
Other Renfrewshire residents who shared leap year birthdays on The Gazette’s Facebook page included Kayleigh Helen Payne, who celebrated the ‘first’birthday of her daughter Alivia.
Yvonne Moohan posted several pictures of her son, who celebrated his third (12th) birthday, while Lisa Lauchlan surprised her daughter with a picture and the comment “My beautiful daughter turned 5 today.”
Nancy McGuigan also got in touch to share the news that her sister had celebrated her wedding anniversary on the leap day.
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