Glasgow great-great-grandmother, 104, meets her brother again after 60 years apart

Susan Gair of Pollok turned 104 this summer. Her brother William, 86, moved to London about 60 years ago and the two lost touch. His daughter found an old article about Susan’s 100th birthday. On 30 August they sat down to lunch together in Leeds.

16 October 2026

An elderly man in a pale blue shirt and an elderly woman in glasses, a beaded necklace and a knitted cardigan, sitting side by side at a restaurant table and smiling.
William and Susan at The Botanist in Leeds on 30 August, their first time in the same room in about 60 years.
Photo: the Gair family, via Glasgow Live

Susan Gair, a great-great-grandmother from Pollok in Glasgow, was born in 1922 and turned 104 this summer. Weeks later she met her brother William, 86, for the first time in more than 60 years, Glasgow Live reported on Wednesday.

They are the last two siblings in their family still living. William moved to London around 60 years ago and over the years the two gradually lost touch.

It was William’s daughter Liz who brought them back together. She was researching the family tree and came across a Glasgow Live article from two years earlier, written when Susan turned 100. She got in touch with Susan’s granddaughter, Lynsey.

The two families chose Leeds, halfway between Glasgow and London, and met on 30 August at The Botanist for a Sunday roast. Around the table were Susan’s daughter Melissa and granddaughter Lynsey, William’s daughter Jane, nephew Derek, great-niece Jaceyrae and great-nephew Dylan. They spent the afternoon going over the old days.

It was overwhelming, but a lovely day.Susan Gair
Seven members of a family standing behind William and Susan, who are seated at a restaurant table, all facing the camera.
The two families in Leeds. Susan and William are seated at the front.
Photo: the Gair family, via Glasgow Live
It was a special day, overwhelming at first as they’ve not seen each other in a long long time, but special. After just a few minutes they were joking and laughing away.Lynsey Gair, Susan’s granddaughter, to Glasgow Live

Susan was born in Bishopbriggs. She met her husband Charles at the dancing when they were both teenagers and worked in a munitions factory before they married and moved to Glasgow. She lost Charles more than 35 years ago, and her son, also Charles, 14 years ago.

She has had two hip replacements and had Covid at 99. Asked how she has reached 104 she said: “I’ve always lived a clean and honest life, been hard working and drank no alcohol.”

A long restaurant table under hanging lamps with William, Susan and their family seated along both sides, looking towards the camera.
Lunch at The Botanist.
Photo: the Gair family, via Glasgow Live

The brother and sister now plan to keep in touch on FaceTime and to make the Leeds lunch a yearly fixture.

Carry a story in five words

We run a game called Long Story Short: one real news sentence a day, and you keep the five words that carry it. Today’s is below. Do play.

How to play

One real news sentence. The job is to keep the five words that carry the story and let the rest go, then guess. Blue means the right word in the right place, orange the right word in the wrong place.

Yesterday: A 24-year-old flew from Guernsey to race in Chicago alone, so an uncle secretly asked for help on Facebook, and strangers cheered his marathon along every mile. The five were strangers cheered 24-year-old in marathon.

Play today’s on the full page ›
From Glasgow Live’s report of 14 October 2026 by Chiara Pollock. Photographs supplied by the family, via Glasgow Live.
Long Story ShortThis story in five words. Play today’s →