Crescent lady of 40 years is a centenarian

A CENTENARIAN from Forres celebrated her birthday with over 70 friends and relatives at a party in the Mosset Tavern.

On the day of her birthday, mother of three, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of eight, Mrs Jean Raeburn, also enjoyed greetings from the Queen, visits from Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Shaw Johnston and local councillor Claire Feaver, as well as a surprise phone call from accordion player Gordon Portillo.

“I’ve had a good life,” she said. “It’s had its ups and downs. The secret is to stay active and in touch with your family and friends.

“I stopped driving 30 years ago so I depend on other people to get around but I go to Cameron Court three times-a-week to catch up with everyone.”

Jean was born in 1918 to James and Jayne Nicol in a house near Thornhill Farm on the Grantown Road.

Her brother and sister, the late George and Margaret, were born in the years that followed.

Jean’s earliest memory was when they moved to Feddan near Brodie.

She said: “There was a wee burn at the front of the house where we fished for eels. We were warned not to go too far as there was a water kelpie at a bridge further up who would get us!

The siblings walked to Moyness School in all weathers. Jean moved on to Dyke School aged 12, leaving at 14 to start work as a housemaid and nanny for Reverend Gordon Fraser in Nairn.

It was around this time that the Nicols moved to the end of the Broom of Moy.

“I remember walking across the River Findhorn when it was frozen over and the ferryman there, Mr Mackintosh,” said Jean.

“It was so cold once that I had to walk the width of the river to get to my work in Forres as the ferry couldn’t move!”

Jean’s father James took part in the official opening ceremony of the original Bailey bridge.

She enjoyed the open air while working for the Forestry Commission at Kintessack before the Second World War.

When war broke out, the Culbin Forest was closed so Jean started working at Michie the butcher, driving a car and trailer for the Findhorn shop for three years.

Jean was married to Gilbert Raeburn in 1946 at Dyke Manse by the Reverend Macdonald.

The couple lived in Rafford first then a flat at Drumduan House and then Cassieford Cottages.

They also had three children - Sheena, Lesley and, finally, the late Sandra.

Jean enjoyed gardening, country dancing and bingo in her spare time.

Jean also worked at MOD Kinloss for around 20 years, retiring in 1978 before moving to her home of 40 years, 69 Anderson Crescent.

Jean’s husband Gilbert passed away in 1998 but she still sees other members of her family every day.

Looking back, Jean said: “Forres is different now - when I was younger you could go into town and take your pick of the shops for whatever you needed. When we stayed in Rafford we didn’t come in very often, but when we did, we would meet lots of folk we knew in the street.

“I don’t know where half the folk there come from these days!”