IT was to be a party to remember, with loved ones gathered together to wish ‘birthday girl’ Janet McSherry many happy returns as she turns 100.

Instead, the coronavirus lockdown means the closest Janet will get to joining her family for the celebration is seeing them through a window as they stand outside the care home where she lives.

Her daughter, Janette McGee, admits that what should be such a happy occasion will be tinged with sadness.

She told The Gazette: “All our plans for a celebration have gone up in smoke. We can’t do anything.

“It’s terrible really, as you can’t go in to see her at all, but I’m hoping that, once this is all over, we can make up for it.

“When I do see mum again, I’m going to give her a big cuddle.”

Janet, known to her loved ones as Nettie, turns 100 on Monday and will mark the milestone with fellow residents at Erskine Park Home, in Bishopton.

She is believed to be the first ever resident at the home to turn 100, with staff determined to do their best to make it a joyful day.

Janet Sloan, one of Nettie’s five grandchildren, said not being able to join the party is “heartbreaking.”

“It will be really hard for my family,” she added. “We know the care home will have a party for her with all the residents there but, at the moment, it’s not likely that we’ll be able to go inside.

“We are planning to go along to the care home on her birthday and celebrate with her as best we can from outside, looking through the window.

“My mum is usually down at the care home six or seven hours a day and she’s finding it difficult being separated from her mum.

“We did plan to have a big party at the home but that’s had to be put on hold.

“We’ve ordered banners and other things to hand in but they aren’t allowed to take a lot of things from outside right now.

“We’re used to visiting her every day, so we can’t wait for everything to get back to normal – although we don’t yet know what ‘normal’ will be.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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