Woman celebrating her 105th birthday says secret to a long life is a 'good cup of tea with friends'

Published: 00:33, 13 May 2026 | Updated: 00:48, 13 May 2026 A woman who celebrated her 105th birthday has revealed the secret to a long life is a 'good cup of tea with friends'. When Margaret Blair was born in 1921, David Lloyd George was Prime Minister, Insulin had just been discovered and a pint of milk cost just seven old pence.  Yesterday, she celebrated her 105th birthday at Erskine Veterans Charity's McKellar House care home in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. And now she has revealed how she reached the milestone birthday. The centenarian has never been a drinker or a smoker and claims the simple things in life, such as home-cooked meals and good company, are key to happiness and a long life. She said: 'I've had a great life and so many happy memories over the years. I feel very fortunate to be celebrating my 105th birthday and to have reached this milestone surrounded by family, friends and everyone here at McKellar House. 'It has been lovely to spend time together and celebrate with so many familiar faces. 'The secret to a long life is a good cup of tea with friends, and we've had a few of them today.' When Margaret Blair (pictured) was born in 1921, David Lloyd George was Prime Minister, Insulin had just been discovered and a pint of milk cost just seven pence Margaret Blair reads her birthday card from the King and Queen with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant David Girdwood and her daughter Senga Neave One of five children, Mrs Blair grew up in her grandmother's house in Dumbarton on the bank of the River Clyde. After finishing school, she worked in embroidery at the United Turkey Red Works - a major Scottish textile firm. During the Second World War, she was an overseer at the Blackburn Aircraft Factory in Dumbarton, where Sunderland Flying Boats were created for the UK forces. In 1941, she enlisted in the Women's Land Army and was stationed at her uncle's farm in Southmains, Milngavie, where she met her husband, Christie Blair, the son of a local gamekeeper. Mr Blair, who served in the RAF from 1940 to 1947, spent time in India before he returned home. The pair married in 1948 and moved into a home in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire. They have a daughter, Senga, who was born in 1957, and Mrs Blair is a grandmother to two and a great-grandmother to three.  The couple were happily married until Mr Blair died in 2017. On Tuesday, she received a second royal birthday card, with a message from the King and Queen, after getting another on her 100th. Ian Cumming, chief executive of Erskine Veterans Charity, said: 'It is a pleasure for everyone at Erskine to celebrate Margaret's 105th birthday. 'Reaching such a remarkable milestone is a significant occasion and a chance to recognise a life filled with memories and experiences. 'We are delighted to help make the day special for Margaret and to celebrate alongside her family, friends, residents and staff.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.