A Perthshire care home resident who participates in weekly exercise classes is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

Margaret Burns, a resident at Balhousie Pitlochry care home, has marked the milestone birthday with music, flowers and a cake baked especially by the home’s chef, Lionel Ballard.

Margaret has also spent time with one of her oldest friends who is also a resident in the care home. Born in Pitlochry in 1921, Margaret lived in Blair Atholl and worked in the local Post Office with fellow resident and life-long friend Janet (Jenny) Macmillan.

Staff at the home also organised for Songbook Melodies, a husband and wife singing duo who have been posting online virtual concerts for care home residents to enjoy up and down the country, to record a special message and rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for Margaret.

Wonderfully active for her age, Margaret participates in the home’s regular exercise sessions, run virtually by Live Active Leisure in Perth. With limited eyesight, she participates with the chair exercises purely with verbal cues.

Very humble about her big day, Margaret asked for a cake and for not too much fuss, but hoped all the staff and residents could enjoy her party. On living a long and healthy life, Margaret has wise advice. She said: “I’ve been very, very lucky in my life. We have to live our lives to its full potential and get the most out of what we have.”

Claire Mackay, home manager at Balhousie Pitlochry care home, said: “We would like to wish Margaret a very happy 100th birthday. We often talk about how our residents bust the myths around what life is like for an older person and Margaret is a remarkable example of this. We all hope she has a lovely day today celebrating.”