Labour and Co-op stalwart Lizzie hits 100
Former Tranent resident Lizzie Love
Cards and congratulations were winging their way from East Lothian to the Borders where former Tranent resident Lizzie Love celebrated her 100th birthday.
Now living with her daughter Janice in Coldingham, Lizzie was the toast of her hometown when she marked the magnificent milestone last Wednesday.
Born and brought up in Tranent, as one of four children, Lizzie (nee Hunter) left school at 14 to work in the Co-op gardens in Edinburgh Road.
She married local miner James Love in 1939 after an eight-year engagement, during which she was often heard to joke “is he ever going to marry me?”
It was the onset of war that prompted Jimmy to finally pop the question and the couple enjoyed a very happy marriage until his death in 1983.
They were both keen bowlers, initially as members of Polson Park Bowling Club, before joining East Lothian Co-op Bowling Club.
The couple had three children — Sandra, Janice and Jim — and Lizzie is now a doting grandmother, with eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
She moved to Coldingham in 1988 and suffered the loss of her eldest child Sandra five years ago.
A stalwart of the local Labour party, Lizzie was actively involved with East Lothian Co-operative Society for many years and was the last chairman of the board before its merger with Borders Co-op.
She is also remembered locally as a talented singer and founder of the Lizzie Love Choir, which she established in the 1940s and ran until her retirement in the 1980s.
Under her leadership, the choir eventually became known as the Elco Toppers, producing an annual pantomime and performing to raise funds for charity.
Among Lizzie’s prodigies was Isa Thomson, who joined the choir as a youngster and went on to form the Centre Stage group, still going strong today.
This week, Lizzie was looking forward to a quiet celebration with close family and a visit from the Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire with her telegram from the Queen.
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Weather for Musselburgh
Wednesday 22 February 2012
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