Former Pollok Park estate resident marks 103rd birthday

Sylvia Knox has spent the past 100 years of her life living in Glasgow's South Side, after having moved from Bedford to the city, and into the iconic South Side landmark, at the age of three.

Sylvia now resides in Whitecraigs Care Home, situated only three miles from Pollok Park, with staff giving her a special birthday celebration.

Staff treated the birthday girl to cake and decorated her room with balloons, while her daughter-in-law, Irene, was also allowed to visit Sylvia on her special day in line with Covid restrictions.

Sylvia was also able to speak to her granddaughters, Jackie and Sheila, through FaceTime.

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As part of her 103rd birthday celebrations, Sylvia was gifted with flowers and a bottle of Champagne from supermarket Aldi, and also a Centenary Book from Cowglen Golf Club, where she spent many years as a member and impressed patrons with her handicap of 16.

She said: “I have had a lovely day celebrating my birthday.

"The party organised by staff reminded me of the many I attended in Pollok House - I have felt quite the Lady."

Sylvia moved into the estate with her family in 1921 after her father was employed as a stonemason by politician and philanthropist, Sir John Stirling Maxwell.

Sylvia's home at the Pollok Park estate

Pollok Estate had belonged to the Maxwell family for more than 700 years before it was handed over to the Glasgow Corporation in 1966 for public use.

Sylvia told of how the Maxwell family were "extremely generous" to staff, organising parties, gardening competitions and even trips to Belfast.

She continued to live in her childhood home while working at Andrew Duthie’s Fine Art Dealers on Sauchiehall Street, and later Rolls Royce.

In 1943, Sylvia married her husband Nicky, and gave birth to two sons, John and Colin.

The family then moved from the Pollok estate home into the nearby neighbourhood, Shawlands.

When Pollok House was opened to the public, Sylvia would often find herself touring the property to reminisce about her childhood.

Sylvia said: "I’m very proud that I was part of the life at Pollok Park Estate with the Maxwells, and I’m looking forward to my next visit to its beautiful grounds when safe to do so.”

Amanda Randou, home administrator at Renaissance Care’s Whitecraigs Care Home, said: “We are so pleased to have Sylvia with us at Whitecraigs, and hoped to make her birthday as special as possible under the current restrictions.

"We believe in adding the personal touch at Renaissance Care, and throughout the last year, this has been more important than ever, making sure each day is special for our residents.”