Cathy Smith, who was born a decade before the late Queen, has died aged 106.
Since she turned 100, Cathy had received seven cards of congratulations from the Queen, the final one in February this year.
Cathy was born in 1916 during the First World War when King George V was on the throne and Herbert Asquith was Prime Minister.
David Lloyd George moved into Number 10 Downing Street when she 10 months old.
Throughout her life, Cathy, who had been living at Dorward House, Montrose, shunned alcohol and tobacco.
She had a lifelong love of sport, cycled into her 90s and went to the gym well into her second century.
Catherine Young was born in Ferryden, across the River South Esk from Montrose and was educated at Ferryden Primary School and then Montrose Academy.
She left school at 14 in 1930 to begin work in the textile industry, which at that time was a major employer in North Angus and the Mearns.
In 1934, aged 18, Cathy married Andrew Smith and went on to have five children.
Over the years the family grew to include 13 grandchildren and many more great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Throughout her life, Cathy had a passion for dance, had been a ballroom champion, and took part in daily music and dance sessions with fellow care home residents.
She believed that physical activity, combined with good genes, had been to key to her longevity.
At the age of 103, she took out a membership for Montrose sports centre where she used the treadmill, bicycle and weights machines to keep fit.
After her family had grown up, Cathy turned to volunteering and worked at the Oxfam shop in Montrose for 30 years, only giving up when she was 93.
In September, Cathy spoke to The Courier following the death of the Queen. She had never met her in person but cherished the correspondence sent by Buckingham Palace.
Cathy’s funeral will take place at Emslie S. Collier‘s chapel of rest, Montrose, on Monday, November 14 at 1pm.
Conversation