Jean still doing exercise classes at 100!

Mrs Wood who, until recently was still actively enjoying her hobby of painting, and who still participates in keep fit sessions at the home, celebrated the big occasion with a family get-together lunch at Balbirnie House Hotel.

Jean was born in London and spent her formative years in Radford, near Leamington Spa. She moved to Scotland to stay with an aunt in Leven in her late teens and studied at Athol Crescent in Edinburgh.

She worked as a legal secretary before marrying George Wood in 1942, and the couple settled in Kirkcaldy, where George worked in the bank. They had two children, Caroline and Michael, four grandchildren and now have nine great-grandchildren.

Both she and her husband were active members of St Peter’s Church in Kirkcaldy and Jean had a long association with the Kirkcaldy Art Club. She was a regular exhibitor at the club’s shows for many years, and was still painting at the grand age of 97, although she recently had to give it up.

Both she and her husband were members of the Probus club, an activity Jean continued after her husband’s death in 1991.

The needs of a growing family meant Jean walked to the High Street from her home in Lady Helen Street on a regular basis, a habit she continued in later life – combined with regular exercise classes at St Brycedale church centre. She continues the exercise habit at the nursing home, although her family say that these days she participates a little more sedately.

Mrs Wood was presented with flowers from Councillor Stuart McPhail and Michael Wemyss, depute lord lieutenant of Fife.