Scotland's oldest person Rene Chapman turns 109

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-33065137

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Scotland's oldest person has marked her 109th birthday.

Rene Chapman, who was born in Twickenham, London, celebrated the occasion at the Fort Augustus care home where she has lived since 2012.

Ms Chapman, who was born in 1906, has lived in Scotland for many years after moving to near Spean Bridge to live with friends.

She received a card from the Queen and was visited at the NHS Highland-run home by relatives from Dorset.

Animal lover Ms Chapman owned dogs and an African grey parrot.

She said: "It used to listen to us when we were kids and say 'ta-ta, dada!'."

"I also had a Pekinese and a Westie as well as cats and mice. I used to show the dogs."

Asked for her secret to long life, she told BBC Scotland: "Being well looked after, I suppose. I don't know if there is a secret."

Ms Chapman's cake was made in the shape of a Pekinese dog, her favourite breed.

Elaine Mead, of NHS Highland, said "Rene's milestone is all the more remarkable when you realise that at the time she was born no airplane had ever flown in Europe, San Francisco lay in ruins after a devastating earthquake and a census had concluded that Britain ruled one-fifth of the world."