Scotland’s oldest man celebrates 109th birthday

Jul 1 2009 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

Bob Taggart

SCOTLAND’S oldest man was celebrating his 109th birthday at Walker House care home in Rutherglen on Sunday.

Bob Taggart, who has led a long and distinguished life, marked the event with visits from family on Sunday, June 28, and marked the event with a commemorative cake which they shared with his fellow residents.

Bob, who has featured regularly in the Reformer over the last few years, has five daughters, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, many of whom still live in the Rutherglen area, with others living throughout Scotland, England and America.

Bob himself was born on the High Street in Rutherglen in 1900.

He has been a keen bowler for the past 70 years and played until he was 104. He is an honorary member of Overtoun Park Bowling Club in Rutherglen.

Although unable play the sport he loves, having retired at the tender age of 104, he continued to enjoy watching it.

When Bob turned 100 he presented the bowling green with a cup which was dubbed the Bob Taggart Trophy, with the annual competition being played on Saturday. The club presented him with a beautiful pot plant and card.

Bob led a very successful career with the railway, which he started with at the age of 14.

His first job was to load items onto the wagons.

He worked his way up through different jobs and even went to lower pay to get to higher positions. His last job was a claims investigator for the railway.

Bob was married to Dorcas Taggart, who passed away 11 years ago. They were married for 65 years.

When Bob was born, Queen Victoria was still on the throne, the Marquess of Salisbury was Prime Minister, William McKinlay was the American President and the Boer War was raging in South Africa.