Well-travelled Nett celebrates her centenary in style
Published: Monday 6 March 2023
Miss Janet (Nett) Gillan has celebrated her 100th birthday chatting with friends and family at a special lunch in her honour.
Nett, who now stays in Lindsayfield, East Kilbride, said the secret for her reaching her 100th year was that she “never married”.
And to help her celebrate her remarkable achievement, South Lanarkshire’s Provost Margaret Cooper and Deputy Lieutenant for Lanarkshire John Brown, also attended the party and presented Nett with gifts and certificates.
Nett was born on 13 February 1923 and spent most of her life in Holytown before moving to Bellshill with her brother and sister (also unmarried) in 1992. She also had other siblings and has nieces and nephews.
She went to Bellshill Academy and then on to college to learn to type.
During the war years, she recalls zig-zagging through the streets of Glasgow with a wee torch to light her path. She would go on roof tops to watch for fires during air raids.
She then worked in insurance before taking on a temporary job with the council which lasted 40 years – moving through the ranks to be secretary/PA supporting the work of the chief area architect. She loved her job and brought in the fees for many projects including building new schools.
Nett retired in 1984 at the age of 61.
Over the years she travelled quite a bit, including going down through Russia into white Russia (now called Ukraine). She also travelled on the QEII and Concord.
Now living in Lindsayfield, Nett may not be as mobile as she used to be but still has a very active mind, keeping up to date with current affairs and is still a font of knowledge on local events from her early years that have long since been forgotten.
If you would like the Provost to attend a Diamond Wedding or 100th birthday please get in touch with the Provost’s Office.
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