Scotland’s oldest woman – and a lady who became a north-east treasure – has died at the age of 109.
Jessie Gallan celebrated her milestone birthday just three months ago, by which time the modest centenarian had been thrust into the limelight thanks to her wise words on how to live your life – a daily dose of porridge, but no men.
“My secret to a long life has been staying away from men,” she said.
“They’re just more trouble than they’re worth.”
Jessie had been living at VSA’s Crosby House care home in Aberdeen, where she had become one of home’s most popular residents – a kind and sociable addition to the family, they said.
She would sit each day and chat with her best friend and fellow resident, Sarah-Jane Main, and immersed herself in all the activities going on within the home.
When she celebrated her 109th birthday on January 2, Crosby House manager, Sandra Angus, said birthday wishes flooded in from all corners of the globe, much to Jessie’s amazement.
“We had people phoning in from across the world, and people coming to the front door wanting to say hello. Jessie went viral,” she laughed.
“But she took everything in her stride.”
Jessie was born in 1906 in a two-room cottage on a farm near Kintore, where she slept top to toe with her five sisters and one brother.
Despite never having a penny, she recalled a childhood full of happiness.
“We never had any money, but we were all very happy,” she said.
Jessie, who never married, left school to work in a farm kitchen, but later left to take up a housemaid’s job at the home of a wealthy businessman in Aberdeen’s Gray Street.
Then it was off to work at the Lauriston Hotel in Ballater, where the arrival of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was the highlight of the season.
Jessie stayed at Ballater, working as a waitress, for 10 years. She said: “We always waited to see the Queen when she arrived at Ballater on the train.”
In the last few weeks of her life, Jessie remained as active as ever, and was delighted to meet Scottish singer Fiona Kennedy when she performed for the residents.
However, two weeks ago, her health started to deteriorate.
Jessie died peacefully in her own bed yesterday morning, with her family by her side.
“Jessie was a bit of a character, and she knew what she wanted. But was an incredibly nice lady,” said Ms Angus.
“She will be missed by us all.”
Jessie became Scotland’s oldest woman following the death of Clare Dawson, of Glasgow, in June 2013 at the age of 109.