Port of Leith Housing Association tenant turns 100

Port of Leith Housing Association tenant Ruby, who attributes her long life to not smoking and her love of dancing, has spoken about how Leith has changed over the years.

From the coming and going of trams to the influx of cars and the appearance of large, leafy trees around the neighbourhoods, Leith looks quite different than it did a hundred years ago. Even Ruby’s close has changed from a noisy stairwell full of neighbours to a hushed and calm spot today.

Port of Leith Housing Association wished Ruby a very happy 100th birthday celebration and presented her with a bouquet of flowers at her home in Leith. 

Heather Kiteley, director of finance and corporate services at Port of Leith Housing Association, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Ruby and to hear about all her different experiences of living in Leith and north Edinburgh for a century. Proud Leithers like Ruby play a big part in making Leith the vibrant and exciting place it is today. I wish her a very happy birthday.”

Ruby spent her working days at Macniven and Cameron Ltd, the well-known printing and stationery company on Blair Street. When she wasn’t working, Ruby frequented the city’s picture houses, including Gaiety Theatre in the Kirkgate.

Her favourite pastime of all is dancing, and she was known to visit dancehalls all over Edinburgh, including the famous Palais de Danse in Fountainbridge. The venue had a hand-cranked revolving stage and served fruit juice at its alcohol-free bar, Cupid’s Corner. Ruby’s preferred dance style is sequence dancing, a type of ballroom dance where all couples perform the same movements simultaneously around the room.