Speyside Care Home in Aberlour helps 100-year-old woman celebrate birthday
A globetrotting woman who worked as a nurse in Asia has celebrated her 100th birthday.
Hilda Mackenzie was joined by family, friends and fellow residents at Aberlour Care Home to celebrate a century of life.
Originally from Finzean in the Parish of Birse, Aberdeenshire, Hilda turned 100 on November 14 and received her card from His Majesty The King.
While life began in the north-east, where Hilda has now settled, work and family took her right around the globe.
She trained as a nurse and widwife at Woodend and Foresterhill hospitals in Aberdeen in the 1940s - before her passion for caring for others took her around the world.
In 1955, she moved to Hong Kong, where she met her husband Sandy - who was a master mariner from Lossiemouth. Sandy passed away in 2016.
In Kong Kong, Hilda worked at the Matilda Hospital. Her and Sandy married in Aberdeen - but were quickly on the move again as they spent a decade living in Sarawak, Malaysia.
They raised their children - Colin, who now lives in Dufftown - and Lindsey - who stays near New York - in Malaysia, before returning to the United Kingdom in 1966 and settling closer to home.
She has four grandchildren - Andrew, David, James and Tom - and four great-grandchildren, Emelia, Henry, Robin and Alfie.
After Sandy's passing in 2016, Hilda remained in the family home that they had settled in since 1972.
Unfortunately, fall earlier this year led to her move to Speyside Care Home at the age of 99.
Speyside manager Louise Gillies said: "It was an honour to help celebrate such a remarkable milestone with Hilda.
“Her life is one filled with adventure, dedication, and love for her family and community. We were thrilled to have her here with us and to share in this special moment."
