Pianist Agnes Manzie, whose talent was enjoyed by the people of Angus and beyond for more than nine decades, has died at the age of 102.
Known to friends as Nessie, she first started playing the piano to accompany silent movies at Arbroath’s Olympia Picture Palace at the age of 10.
Her lifelong love of music saw her learn to play again despite suffering a severe stroke in her later years and she continued to entertain at the town’s Friendship Club until just a couple of years before her 100th birthday in July 2017.
Mrs Manzie was born in Dundee but moved to Arbroath in her early years and attended St Thomas school.
She worked for a short time as a weaver for Francis Webster & Sons Ltd in Arbroath.
In the 1960s she was part of a popular Arbroath band called The Seasiders, who were in demand for weddings and dances around the area.
At the time of her 100th birthday, her daughter Lorraine Gorlikowski said: “She played by ear and was earning money from her talent from the age of 10 at the silent movies.
“She went on to play the piano in her youth and she was much sought-after for all the parties at that time.
“The Seasiders were a four-piece band consisting of mum on the piano, two accordions and the drums, and they were very well known.”
In her late 60s, Mrs Manzie suffered a severe stroke and brain haemorrhage which left her paralysed down one side, but she worked hard at her rehabilitation in a determination to be able to play the piano again.
“She persevered and practised and began to be able to play again and became a member of a concert party and entertained the elderly,” Lorraine added.
“She’s had a lifetime of entertaining people in the town.”
For the past 17 years she had been a resident at Seaton Grove in Arbroath and died there from natural causes.
Paying tribute to the care her mother received, Lorraine added: “She had a long and very happy time over all those years at Seaton Grove.”
Mrs Manzie is survived by her daughters Lorraine and Joyce.
