BIOGRAPHY

Sinclair was born in Lunanhead, Angus, Scotland, on 6 April 1910. She moved to Dunkeld when she was around 10 years old, after her father got a job as a stonemason at Dunkeld Cathedral. In 1937, she married Willie, and the couple had one daughter, Iris.

During the Second World War, she relocated to Dumbarton, where she worked as a cook at the canteen in Denny’s Shipyard, preparing over 400 meals a day for the workers. During the war, a bomb was dropped on her workplace during a night air raid, but the device failed to detonate. In 1945, she relocated to Dunkeld, where she lived for the remainder of her life. Alongside her passion for baking and cooking, she served as an usherette at the town’s picture house and worked in various hotels in the area, including the Royal Hotel in Dunkeld.

Her husband died in 1990. After his passing, she moved into Servite House in Dunkeld, where she resided for nearly 30 years in her top-floor flat. In July 2020, she relocated to Rivendell Care Home, where she spent the last two months of her life. According to her family, she was a very positive person. She also enjoyed staying active and keeping her mind engaged. During the 2012 Olympic torch relay, she had the honor of holding the torch as it passed through Dunkeld.

In May 2015, she met Alf Smith, then 107 years old (who would later become a supercentenarian himself), and Willhelmina “Neen” Reid (24 September 1911 – 6 March 2016), aged 103. The three of them gathered for a special tea party at the home of a mutual friend in St Madoes, Perth. Sinclair commented on the meeting, saying she very much enjoyed meeting Alf and Neen. She added that the tea party made her feel young and mentioned that she had a great chat with them.

At the time of her 110th birthday, she was still managing her own household chores at the Servite House care home and regularly going out for walks until the coronavirus pandemic began. Due to the pandemic, her birthday was celebrated with pipers performing outside her house, though they had to maintain distance due to COVID-19 restrictions. Reportedly, she found the lockdown challenging, with the social isolation affecting her health.

Sinclair passed away on the evening of 15 September 2020, at the Rivendell Care Home in Birnam, at the age of 110 years, 162 days. She was survived by her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter.

Sinclair passed away on the evening of 15 September 2020, at the Rivendell Care Home in Birnam, at the age of 110 years, 162 days. She was survived by her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and Chris Law, and validated by the ESO on 29 May 2020.

At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest living person in Scotland, following Janet Mackay, who was 11 days older.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Three oldest residents in Perth and Kinross talk about the good old days” – The Courier, 2 May 2015

* “Jessie marks 106th birthday with a party” – Perthshire Advertiser, 8 April 2016

* “Scot celebrating 110th birthday’s secret to long life is PORRIDGE” – Daily Record, 10 April 2020

* “Tributes to ‘strong, inspiring’ Jessie as Tayside’s oldest woman, and Scotland’s second oldest, dies aged 110” – The Courier 19 September 2020

* “Perthshire’s oldest resident Jessie passes away at 110” – Daily Record, 22 September 2020

GALLERY