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A FORMER depute head of Dumbarton Academy has celebrated his hundredth birthday quietly at home – after the coronavirus lockdown put paid to plans for a big celebratory bash.

Jim McIlwraith's party earlier this month had to be postponed because of social distancing measures.

But the centenarian, who now lives in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, was delighted to receive the good wishes of family and friends – and he was treated to some singing by members of Dollar Bridge Club to mark the occasion.

Jim and his wife of almost 66 years, Marjory, were regular bridge players until the lockdown came into force last month.

Linda Sommerville, the club's secretary, delivered presents along with another representative from the club, all while keeping a good distance due to Covid-19.

Jim, who is still fit and active for his age, was born in the family home in Victoria Street in Dumbarton on April 15, 1920 – a second child to parents William and Anne, and a brother to Jane, four years his senior.

Later the McIl lived in the town's Eastfield Terrace, Dewars Avenue and Dumbuck Crescent.

Jim's school years began at Knoxland Primary School; from there he went to Dumbarton Academy before joining the Army at the age of 20.

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He served in the armed forces from 1940 until 1946, including a deployment in Burna from 1942, before returning to his home town and to a career as a teacher at his former school, where he eventually became depute head.

It was also in his time on the Academy's teaching staff that he met Marjory, a Dubliner by birth and a history teacher by profession.

The two tied the knot on July 12, 1954, when they left Dumbarton for good, living first in Bearsden and then in the Borders after Jim was appointed head teacher of Galashiels Academy.

Later the couple, who have a son and daughter and three grandchildren, moved to Ayrshire, where they spent part of their leisure time as active bowlers in Prestwick and Ayr.

In doing so they followed in the footsteps of Jim's father, who was a long-standing member of Dumbarton's Eastfield Bowling Club as well as being a manager at the famous Babcock and Wilcox engineering firm in Renfrew.

The couple moved from Ayrshire to Dollar around a decade ago, to be closer to family.

Asked to reveal the secret to a long and happy life, Jim admitted: "I don't really have a secret – but apart from a spell while I was in Burma, with malaria and dengue fever, I've only been in hospital for one day in my whole life."

Linda, who ensured she kept well away during a very brief visit, said: "It's amazing Jim is still playing bridge at 100."

Marjory also wished her husband all the best as they marked the milestone, and said that while a planned party had to be postponed because of the government's lockdown restrictions, a big celebration will eventually go ahead once it's safe to do so.