Age is just a number as Percy celebrates 103rd birthday

Retired policeman and recent TikTok sensation Percy Mann, who is a father of 11, grandfather of 20 and great-grandfather of 16, was able to enjoy his special day with loved ones nearby.

Family members, including his granddaughter Clare Macleod who was turning 23, paid him a visit at Renaissance Care’s Whitecraigs care home.

Having celebrated over 100 birthdays, Percy is more than happy to have shared his birthday weekend with Clare over the last 23 years, as Percy was born on August 21, 1917, and Clare on August 23, 1997.

Clare, who is currently a PHD student studying cardiovascular science at The University of Edinburgh, expressed her delight at having been able to share her birthday weekend with her grandpa her entire life.

She said: “It has always been a really special weekend every year, and I definitely value it more the older we get.”

The pair had their own separate celebrations with Clare enjoying some socially distanced drinks with a few friends in her back garden and Percy being treated to birthday cakes with staff, residents and family all singing him happy birthday from a distance.

Although, both enjoyed wishing one another happy birthday at the home’s designated family area last Sunday (August 23).

Clare added: “My grandpa is still so full of life and young at heart, he inspires us all everyday to live life to the fullest and to always have fun. I have never thought there was 80 years between us, age is just a number to him.

“Having a birthday this year will have been strange for anyone, it has been the first time as a family we haven’t been able to mark both our birthdays and sit down to enjoy cake together. Although, it has still been lovely to be able to see each other and acknowledge that we can hopefully celebrate properly very soon.”

Percy’s daughter and Clare’s mum Liz said: “We feel sad that we can’t take our dad out somewhere nice. Last year, we had all the family together as we love a bit of a party. However, it’s fantastic to see him looking so well after everything he’s been through in the last few months – bring on 104.”

When asked how Percy celebrated his twenty third birthday, he said, “It was during the Second World War and I think it would have been very different to Clare’s, as she told me she was enjoying cocktails with friends, those didn’t exist in 1940!

“It doesn’t feel like so many years have passed, I am very lucky to have had such wonderful people around me over the years. To have been able to have seen my family on my birthday, even through the window, made my day it is all I needed.”