FOR Elizabeth McLaughlin it was the perfect birthday celebration - because she was entirely surrounded by her family.

Elizabeth's eight children travelled from around the world to be there and help her celebrate turning 100.

They travelled from Scotland, England, Australia, Hong Kong, Sweden and Italy to be there for the big day.

Daughter Bernadette Cooklin said: "She has had a fantastic time and that is because she had all her family here with her.

"We see each other all the time but it is very rare that all of us can get together at once.

"She has had a wonderful day and everyone has managed to be well behaved."

Elizabeth, who is also a gran of 13 and a great-gran of 18, was born on July 6, 1917, the fourth of five children born to George Steven and Lillias Elizabeth Murray Steven.

She was orphaned at a young age when her father died in 1924 and her mother in 1928.

Elizabeth was raised by her mother's family in Glasgow where she attended North Kelvinside School.

After school she worked in the paint and wallpaper department in Lewis’s Department Store on Argyle Street.

On a night out with friends, as a teenager, Elizabeth met her future husband, Charles Kean, in Glasgow Central Station and in 1940 they were married in St Mary’s Church, Pollokshields.

Charles left for war service in the RAF and she worked in several places in the UK, dependent on where he was stationed.

In 1943 she returned to live in Glasgow to give birth to the first of their nine children, Cecilia, in 1943. Cecilia, who had two children, died in 2013.

Charles followed in 1945 before Elizabeth in 1946 and Theresa in 1948.

The couple then had Anne in 1950, Margaret in 1952, Philomena in 1955, Bernadette in 1958 and Louise in 1962.

The family first lived at Glencroft Road in Croftfoot, from 1940 to 1960, moving to Kingsbridge Drive, Kings Park, till 1979.

Charles died in 1971, leaving Elizabeth with six of her children still living with her at home.

She returned to work, first as an Avon representative, then with SEB (now SQA) as a Pre-test Superintendent, and finally with Dolphin Showers, until she retired.

In 1979 she moved to Fenwick Road, Giffnock, and in 1996 to Courthill Avenue, Cathcart, where she still lives today.

Elizabeth's birthday was spent having a family lunch for 60 in the hall of the parish church she has attended since her marriage, Christ the King on Carmunnock Road.

Elizabeth's secret to a long life is simple. She said: "I just keep breathing."

But Bernadette says the answer is more likely to be, "family". She said: "The reason is that she always has family around her and it is constantly changing with new generations coming along.

"She is never alone."