Edinburgh centenarian receives record number of cards

A local centenarian received a very special delivery to help her toast a remarkable milestone. 

105 people responded to Care UK’s Murrayside call-out for birthday cards to help resident Mary Davidson Smith mark her 105th birthday in style. 

Mary was floored when cards began to arrive at her Corstorphine care home from all over the world, including Spain, France and Singapore. She was also sent a special card from the King – making her one of the few people to have received cards from both Charles and Queen Elizabeth. 

Mary said: “This is incredible! I’ve never seen so many cards, and they’re all for me!”

To make the day extra-special, Mary then enjoyed an afternoon tea with her friends at Murrayside, prepared by the home’s talented chef, Jose. She joked: "I'm glad you didn't have 105 candles; I don't have enough breath for that!" 

When asked for her secret to a long and healthy life, she added: “Eat natural and take care of yourself."

Born in Korea, Mary lived all over the world during her youth, including stints in Suffolk, London, Canada and the USA. She later joined the Royal Navy and met future husband Charles Wynard Davidson Smith, a British Army officer, during a posting in Washington, DC.

The couple went on to raise two sons, Neil and Mark, in Edinburgh, with Mary now a proud grandmother to four grandchildren. 

Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside, said: “It was a real joy to celebrate Mary’s 105th birthday. She is a much-loved resident who always has so many wonderful stories to share about her remarkable life.

“Mary is a huge part of the Murrayside family and is always keen to participate, whether it’s getting outdoors, church activities or quizzes. She also enjoys joining in with the singing sessions and meeting up with friends at coffee mornings. 

“At Murrayside, we are committed to ensuring that residents continue to lead fulfilling and exciting lives. The team are super pleased to have reached our target of 105 cards – Mary was overjoyed to have received so much love and well wishes from people all over the world. Cheers to Mary!” 

Murrayside is a state-of-the-art care home that incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, including a cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.