ONE OF Scotland’s oldest people, Perth woman Mary Newlands, has died. She was 106.
She was born in the Fair City on August 17 1906 to plumbing firm owner David Ross and Mary MacLeod, of P&T MacLeod the glaziers.
With her sisters, Jean and Ena, she lived at Edenhurst in Main Street, Methven, attending the village primary school and then Perth Academy in Rose Street.
Mrs Newlands kept the books and checked materials for the plumbing business. She also worked in the local bakery.
In 1928, she spent several months in Canada, where she visited and flew over the Niagara Falls her first and only flight.
She returned to Methven to look after her mother.
A long-time member of St Leonard’s in the Fields and then of Kinnoull Church, she was active in the Choral Union and WRI.
In 1939 she married George Newlands, a railway signalman. They lived at South Inch Place, where they had two sons, George and Alan.
After the war the family moved several times, settling in Jeanfield Road. George died in 1973.
Mrs Newlands remained active until late in life. In 2000 she moved to Beechgrove House, then to Moncreiffe Care Home.
