‘County’s oldest resident’ Ella Vlandy celebrating turning 107

Ella Vlandy celebrates the big day tomorrow (Saturday).

It is thought she could be the fifth oldest person in Scotland.

Born in 1914 in Edinburgh, Ella still lives at home in North Berwick.

Her family moved to the town when she was about five years old.

She has never been married and has no children.

Ella Vlandy turns 107 years old on Saturday and is believed to be East Lothians oldest resident. She is pictured here during her 106th birthday last year

During the coronavirus pandemic, a friend and neighbour of Ella’s has been checking in on her to ensure all is well.

On leaving school, Ella attended physical education college in Dartford, Kent.

During her working life, her first job was teaching PE at St Columba’s School in Kilmacolm in the west of Scotland.

However, most of her working life was teaching PE at Dundee College of Education. Although based in the city, she regularly travelled home to North Berwick.

She played tennis and hockey for Scotland, the latter on numerous occasions before and after the Second World War, and took part in the North Berwick tennis tournament in her youth.

She has also attended Wimbledon on a number of occasions.

Alongside tennis and hockey, Ella was a keen golfer, having being a member of both North Berwick and Gullane Ladies’ Golf Clubs.

Nowadays, Ella has swapped sports for cards, playing solitaire and the occasional game of bridge.

She also has an interest in the arts and classical music, attending concerts such as the Lammermuir Festival; she is also a supporter of Scottish Opera.

Lockdown has meant she has missed attending concerts, the local day centre and playing bridge but she enjoys playing solitaire and listening to music on the radio.

Ella celebrated her 106th birthday last year with lunch at The Open Arms Hotel in Dirleton with 10 of her family and friends.

However, due to coronavirus restrictions, plans for a big, special celebration have been put on hold, with those in her social bubble paying her a visit and other friends speaking on the telephone.

Michael Williams, East Lothian's Lord Lieutenant, presenting Ella with a birthday card from Her Majesty the Queen last year for her 106th birthday

Michael Williams, East Lothian’s Lord Lieutenant, presented her with birthday cards from the Queen when she turned 100, 105 and 106, saying to her last year: “I’ll see you next year”!

He described Ella as a “terrific, amazing lady” and “a great character”.

While Mr Williams will not be able to present Ella her card in person, he is going to phone her at noon on her birthday and the card will be delivered to her directly.

Phone, Zoom and WhatsApp calls have been how Michael has been carrying out most of his duties during the pandemic.

He said that “as far as I am aware”, Ella was the oldest resident in East Lothian.

He joked that, as this would be the fourth card he had presented to her, she might be “sick at the sight” of him.

Mr Williams said he had not presented many cards to residents over the age of 105.

Scotland’s oldest resident is believed to be 110-year-old Janet Mackay from West Lothian, with the top 10 oldest Scottish residents all women.