A FORMER chief executive of East Lothian Council has toasted his 100th birthday.

David Miller was the first chief executive of East Lothian District Council following the reorganisation of Scottish local government in 1975.

Last Wednesday, he was visited by Deputy Lieutenant Hilary Cochran, who presented him with a card from the Queen to mark the milestone birthday at his home in Haddington.

She congratulated Mr Miller on reaching 100 and said: “It was a pleasure to meet David Miller and to hear some of his tales of East Lothian’s past.

“It is so important to be able to celebrate and recognise the achievements of our older citizens and be part of this special occasion with friends and family members.”

Mr Miller was born in Almondbank, Perthshire, on July 6, 1922.

After graduating from the University of St Andrews with a first-class honours degree in law, he began his working career at a legal practice in Perth.

East Lothian Courier: David Miller has toasted his 100th birthday with friends and family

In the early 1950s, he made the move into local government, being appointed as a solicitor for Inverness County Council before moving to Longniddry in 1959, having been appointed as a legal assistant to East Lothian County Council.

In the early 1960s, David and his growing family moved to Haddington, to the house in which he still lives.

The father-of-three, grandfather-of-seven and great-grandfather-of-10 was later appointed as depute county clerk of East Lothian County Council and, in his words: “I liked East Lothian and it seemed to like me.”

He was chief executive of East Lothian District Council until his retirement in 1987.

In the years following retirement, he has spent enjoying time with his wife Mina, whom he had married in 1946.

Together, they travelled extensively in Europe, enjoying especially the wine areas of Germany, the Rhine and Mosel valleys.

Sadly, Mrs Miller later developed dementia and David was her carer for many years until her death in 2017, aged 91.

He continues to remain busy, regularly contributing to his personal diaries, and is a keen follower of St Johnstone FC and records their games and scores.

As a former cricketer, a very competent wicketkeeper (by his own estimation), he was very determined to achieve ‘100 not out’, and is now planning on continuing his ‘innings’ for the foreseeable future.