It was party time at Birdston Care Home today to celebrate 100 years of May Pirrie. Provost Renwick arrived just in time to join May on the dance floor as she marked the special day with a gathering of 80 family members and friends.
Born in in Rottenrow on 27 July 1926, May lived in Pollockshields for her first 11 years she before a move to Clarkston then Bishopbriggs. She enjoyed learning at school and remembers getting half a crown for passing her exams.
A First Aid course as a teenager got her interested in nursing so she applied and was accepted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary at 18 – no mean feat in those days. She trained for three years then worked as a nurse until she retired. A lifetime of service to a job she loved.
May always said she didn’t want to get married until she crossed paths with ‘good and kind’ Dr John Pirrie at work. She was looking forward to the Snowdrop Ball, a charity event to raise funds for the hospital but found she had been put on the rota to work. Knowing what a great dancer she was and how disappointed she would be to miss out, John changed her shift and that was the night they fell in love. They were together until John sadly passed three years ago. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Always creative, May was keen on decoupage and knitting and having learned the art of cutting glass she helped design and make a wonderful stained-glass window at Colston Wellpark. A symbol of her deep Christian faith.
Provost Renwick said, “I was honoured to be invited to meet May and be part of her birthday celebrations. I loved chatting and dancing with her. She has incredible energy and is a truly remarkable lady.”
