Margaret Smith, a resident of Constantia Place Care Centre, celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and staff of the retirement village.
Joining the celebration with her, on Wednesday July 3, was Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged head of nursing Louise Nix and Christ Church Constantia rector Terry Lester, who read an extract of scripture.
Ms Smith was one of five children born in Scotland to parents, Elma and Walter.
“She was 15 when the Second World War broke out. She did another year of school before joining the army, where she spent five years in the Auxiliary Territorial Services, learning to drive Jeeps and pack parachutes and ammunition and fulfilling other clerical duties during her teenage years,” said her son, Peter Smith.
His parents met at the end of the war, married in 1948, and then immigrated to South Africa. They originally settled in KwaZulu-Natal and later moved to Cape Town.
Describing his mother as a remarkable woman and a loving mother and grandmother, Mr Smith said she had always had a dry sense of humour.
He said his mother had become lonely after his father’s death 25 years ago. After she moved into the Constantia Place 16 years ago, the staff and residents had become like a second family for her.
