Cardenden's Fernlea House Care Home has hosted 100th birthday celebrations for one of its residents.

Margaret Wallace was also presented with flowers on behalf of Fife Council by Councillor Rosemary Liewald, and she received a visit from Depute Lieutenant Col Jim Kinloch on behalf of the Fife Lieutenancy.

Margaret Turpie Dorward was born on the February 9, 1924, at 67 Viceroy Street, Kirkcaldy.

The family moved to Station Road, Thornton where Margaret attended school.

Her early working years were at the paper mill and war work at Leslie before she began a career in nursing at the fever hospital on Strathore Road, Thornton. She is able to clearly recall these times.

She married Tom Wallace of Easter Bowhill Farm, Cardenden, in 1947, setting up home in Cardendenbarns Farm Cottage.

In 1948 they moved to Easter Bowhill Farm where they raised their four children – Jennifer, Margaret, Brodie, and Wendy.

Margaret and Tom moved to Shetland for their retirement in 1987, developing many friendships there over the years.

They celebrated their golden wedding in 1997 the same year as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and were invited to the Royal Golden Wedding Garden Party at Buckingham Palace but were unable to attend. Sadly, Tom died in 2003.

Only in 2023 did Margaret become unable to continue her independent living and took the opportunity to return to Fife.

She is now resident in Fernlea House and has enjoyed re-establishing contacts with family and friends. In addition, she is able to see her seven grandchildren John, Helen, Sarah-Jane, Kate, Fay, Angus and Euan and her two great grandchildren Oliver and Sasha more often.

Margaret was a member of Chapel WRI early in her married life and joined Boddam WRI in Shetland where she was awarded honorary membership on her 90th birthday.

She also was a volunteer at the Island teas, baking, manning the bookstall, raising funds for the RNLI for many years. She is continuing her hobby of crocheting blankets for charity.