Margaret Chalmers Reid, one of Dunfermline’s Kent triplets, has died at the age of 77.
With no technology, no one knew their parents, Jessie and Thomas Kent, were expecting three new additions to their family.
Everyone just thought Mrs Kent was expecting a big baby.
However, when the first child, Arlene, arrived they suspected a twin, and Margaret was born not long after.
Mrs Kent was taken back to the ward to nurse the newborns when several hours later the doctors discovered there was a third baby, Sandra.
Mr Kent “a proud man” refused all offers of help even a sponsorship deal with Cow & Gate to provide free milk but neighbours pulled together to assist.
The girls all went to Commercial Primary School in Dunfermline, a town where their grandmother, Bessie Kent, was known for her involvement in the Co-operative and Labour movements and for being a Justice of the Peace.
The triplets all trained as nurses, although Margaret did not go into service as she married John, from Lochgelly, who was building a career with the Co-op that took them to Stranraer, where they had their first son, Mark.
They later moved to Kilmarnock where Stephen and Michael completed their family.
In 1974 the couple bought Overton Road sub-post office and general merchants in Kirkcaldy where they became known as pillars of the community.
“Mum was a brilliant sub-postmistress and was regularly recognised with various awards such as postmaster of the year in Fife,” said son Michael.
Mr Reid was captain of Dunnikier Golf Club and Michael said his mother “loved being the captain’s wife”.
They retired in 1991 and Margaret volunteered with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
The couple also travelled widely, including a trip to New Zealand to visit the triplets’ elder sister, Moira.
They moved to Dunfermline, the centre of a large extended family, and lived on Grieve Street near Davaar House Hotel, which had been the maternity home in which Margaret was born.
Mr Reid died last April and Mrs Reid moved into Canmore Lodge nursing home where she succumbed to a lung condition.
“They are together again, as they had been through most of their working life and all their retirement,” said Michael.
Of the triplets, Arlene, is the last survivor.
Mrs Reid is also survived by her three sons and seven grandchildren.