Incredible Dorothy going strong at 110
AN INCREDIBLE woman who lives in Bulwell is thought to be one of the oldest in the whole of England — after celebrating her 110th birthday.
Dorothy Baldwin, of Bulwell’s Springfield Care Home, was born in 1902 — just a year after the death of Queen Victoria and when the Boer War was still being fought.
She is believed to be the oldest person in Nottingham.
A party was held at the home to celebrate Dorothy’s birthday on Wednesday and the Sheriff of Nottingham, Coun Leon Unczur (Lab), called to congratulate her.
Dorothy is an ardent supporter of the Royal Family and has reached her milestone birthday in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.
Born in Carrington, Dorothy has always lived in Nottingham and she is an ‘old girl’ of the city’s High Pavement School.
She started work a week before the end of World War One and went on to complete 38 years’ service as a cashier with the Midland Bank, originally known as the London City Bank, on Alfreton Road. She has lived at Springfield for six years.
Dorothy was a talented musician and she received piano lessons at an early age. She went on to play for Nottingham Symphony Orchestra, as well as becoming an Associate of the London College of Music.
Having taken up driving before tests were introduced, Dorothy continued into her eighties and her favourite destinations were Skegness, Scarborough and Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire.
She never married and her only living relative, Derek Hazlewood, of Oxfordshire, who visited her regularly, has sadly died. However, Derek’s wife, Kay (83), has kept in touch with her.
Dorothy previously put her longevity down to doses of cabbage water but stopped taking these before she moved into the care home. She claims it is ‘just my luck’ that she has lived to such a remarkably big age.
Care Home spokeswoman Lorraine Morley said Dorothy had a hearty appetite and she did not take any medication.
She added: “Springfield would be a sadder place without Dorothy around and she has given the home some truly memorable moments. She certainly makes her presence felt, especially around mealtimes.”
Another staff member said one of Dorothy’s early family photos showed a thatched cottage.
Dispatch chief reporter Denis Robinson, who first interviewed Dorothy on her 104th birthday, took her a birthday bouquet this week.
She said she could not see the flowers very well but she enjoyed the scent so much that she fell asleep while still holding them!
Dorothy is one of four centenarians at Springfield. One of the others, Maggie Lupton, will be celebrating her 101st birthday on Saturday February 25.
n OUR PHOTO shows Dorothy with her birthday cake at the home — DISPIC NHUD12-0268-1
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