Cake and cards as Dorothy celebrates her 107th birthday (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
Send us your pictures, video, news and views by texting DST to 80360 or email us
Cake and cards as Dorothy celebrates her 107th birthday
2:30pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News
NOW: Dorothy Walker celebrates her birthday
ONE of the oldest women in the country celebrated her latest birthday with a cake, party and visit to school.
Dorothy Walker, who lives at the Brentwood nursing home in Leyburn, celebrated her 107th birthday at a specially arranged coffee morning at Wensley Village Hall.
She was joined by her son, Richard, grandchildren Tony and Rachel, and many other relatives and friends.
She enjoyed a birthday cake and opening her numerous cards, including one from the Queen.
Following the morning treat, staff from Brentwood took her to Leyburn Community Primary School where the children performed some music and sang HappyBirthday.
A former teacher, Mrs Walker had specifically asked to see the children, having received a visit from them on the occasion of her last birthday. She said: “I love to see the children,itisa special treat for me and is like being back at school again.”
Born in Caton Bay, near Scarborough, Mrs Walker spent most of her adultlife in Bellerby, near Leyburn, where she taught at the village school. She also taught atthe convent schoolinRichmond and until recently still gave music tuition. She still plays the piano every day.
She said: “It is the first thing I do when I go in on a morning.”
Previously a keen walker, she once travelled to France by aeroplane. Mrs Walker never learned to drive since her late husband Fred tried to teach her and she nearly drove into a ditch.
“He begged me to carry on, but I didn’t want to,” she recalled.
A regular visitor to the Wensleydale Tournament of Song, Mrs Walker has attendedevery year since1927 and fully intends to be at the contest next week. She does not have a favourite piece of music but does like bright music such as hymns, having played both piano and organ in St John’sChurch,Bellerby, for many years.
Her son Richard said: “My mother is an amazing woman and has enjoyed today immensely. It is funny to think we have shared Mother’s Day for 66 years.”
Certainly the oldest woman in the Dales, Mrs Walker is about the 150th oldest person in the country.
However, she is still some years short of the oldest woman in the UK who at 113 is Grace Adelaide Jones, born 1899, of London.
