A WOMAN who worked in Glasgow’s shipyards during the Second World War is celebrating her 100th birthday.
Janet Harvey received an honorary engineering doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2018 in recognition of her role, where she was one of just a handful of women working as electricians alongside 100,000 men.
She celebrated her centenary with a party and cake on September 28 at Glasgow Golden Generation’s Fred Paton Day Care Centre in the West End.
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Janet left school at 14 and spent three months training at a technical college when she was 18. She started work at Govan’s Fairfield Shipbuilders and then moved to John Brown’s in Clydebank.
After spending six years contributing to the war effort in the 1940s, Janet, like many women, was made redundant once men returned home from fighting.
Considered surplus to requirements at the shipyards in 1946, she went on to spend her career working with the Co-operative and Tennent’s Brewery.
Janet said: “Having spent six years in the shipyards then working straight through to retirement, I’m amazed to be turning 100 but I must have done something right.
“Thank you to everyone for their kind wishes today and a memorable birthday.”
Richard Donald, CEO of Glasgow’s Golden Generation said: “We’re delighted to help Janet celebrate such a huge milestone at the centre.
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“It’s not every day one of our service users turns 100, so we decided to push the boat out for her which seemed appropriate given her shipbuilding past.”
He added: “On behalf of everyone at the Fred Paton Day Centre and Glasgow’s Golden Generation I’d like to wish Janet many happy returns.”
The Fred Paton Day Centre opens 5 days a week in the West End of Glasgow and staff work hard to reduce loneliness and isolation in older adults.
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