An inspirational lady has celebrated her 100th birthday and says she owes her long life to being a Greenock girl.

Anne Sandilands, who was born and bred in the town, marked her milestone birthday on July 26.

The glamorous grandmother says her heart will always lie in Greenock even though she left the town 70 years ago.

(Image: George Munro) (Image: Public) (Image: Public)

Anne, known locally as Nan Service, said: "I think I've reached this age because of my good Greenock upbringing.

"I remember walks along the Esplanade and up to the French Cross and Greenock Cemetery.

These are haunts that she often returns to, on her frequent visits to her home town from where she lives in Balloch.

Her daughter Dianne Matheson, 65, said: "Even though she moved to Balloch back in 1954 for my dad's work, she still sees herself as a Greenock girl at heart.

"I asked her how she felt about getting older and she said that she still saw the world through the eyes of a girl."

Anne marked her milestone with afternoon tea at Caulders Garden Centre in Balloch with 20 family members and friends, including her brother-in-law Harry Paul, 94, who lives in Delfie Drive in Greenock.

She also had a piper which was an emotional moment for Anne, whose late husband Adam was a piper in the Scots Guards and even played at Buckingham Palace.

Anne was one of a family of six and she was born at 33 Nelson Street to Robert and Agnes Service.

She lived in Antigua Street and attended Holmscroft and Mount schools, and she enjoyed dancing when she was a girl and attended Prospecthill Sunday School.

When she left school she had a variety of jobs including working at Service Fruiterers (no relation) and was working there on 30th April 1940, when the large French Free destroyer Maille Breze was sunk at the Tail o' the Bank.

Other jobs included working in a warehouse, Kincaids, and the munitions factory in Bishopton where the gentile Anne was instructed to drive a forklift truck.

Anne quipped: "I didn't like it at all. I remember queuing up for the 1pm edition of the Tele to look for jobs. There was a later edition at 5pm."

(Image: Public)

As well as living through the war, Anne has seen out five monarchs and 21 prime ministers.

Her daughter Dianne, 65, said: "She remembers going to the cinema to watch the coronation of George VI in 1937. All the children received a silver coin, cake and bottle of juice to mark the occasion."

She met her soulmate, Gourock boy Adam, who worked at the Torpedo factory and they tied the knot at Wellpark Church. They were happily married for 32 years before Adam passed away at the age of 69 in 1986.

The couple had moved to Balloch when work was transferred to Alexandria and Adam later became an engineer.

They were blessed with Dianne and her older brother, also Adam, 67, and then their grandson Stewart came along.

Anne still lives in her own home and she only began to get carers when she turned 99. She doesn't drink and only gave up smoking when she was 72.

Dianne, a part-time English teacher, takes her out as often as she can and for the whole day at least once a week, which - weather permitting - includes a trip down the coast, lunch, shopping a wee ice cream to top it off.

She quipped: "My mum loves shopping. She buys in threes, an outfit for wearing, one for the wash and one, just ready to put on.

"She likes shopping in Greenock and going to Ayr Market."

Apart from mobility issues, Anne is fighting fit for a 100-year-old and her other passions are watching snooker, darts, and horse racing.

She was thrilled to get a birthday card from King Charles and quipped she wouldn't mind stealing a kiss but wouldn't like to get on the wrong side of Queen Camilla.

Stewart, who is 38, and his wife Karlyn also helped to celebrate her special birthday.

Asked if she had any tips for the younger generation, she said: "Be happy, my grandson always says that I look forward to things, even it it's a wee thing. I think having a positive outlook helps keep you young."

Anne and her daughter featured in the Telegraph two years ago, when they were looking for information about an old picture featuring her dad Adam as part of Gourock Rhubelle FC, dated 1931-1932.

She was keen to her from anyone who were related to the boys in the picture and would love to hear from the Gourlay family, who had got in touch previously, but Covid stopped them meeting up.

If anyone would like to get in touch they should email diannematheson@hotmail.co.uk