One of the country’s oldest people has revealed her secret to a long and happy life – taking a siesta every single day.
Dora Horsfall swears by the benefits of a nap after reaching 105.
Her granddaughter, Mandy Cheeseman, reckons Dora’s love of sleep could be the key to her longevity, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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She said: “I think that could be why she’s so well preserved.
“She has a siesta every day, even when we were little ones.
“I wish I could be half the lady she is.
“She’s fun, she’s got a wicked laugh.”
Dora added: “Some of us have short lives, some of us have long lives.
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“But it’s what we do in that time that matters.”
Born in London on 2 November, 1921, Dora has lived through more than a century of history, including the Second World War and the huge changes that followed.
She and her brother Jack were sent to West London District boarding school after their father left and the family fell into poverty.
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The facility cared for children who were orphaned, abandoned or in difficult circumstances.
Dora moved to Salisbury, Wilts when she was 13 before returning to London aged 18, where she met Reg.
The couple married in Croydon on 23 December, 1941, before settling in Salisbury and raising their two daughters, Pat and Betty.
During the war, Dora worked as a bus conductress before joining a secret factory producing Spitfire aircraft.
After spending 45 years in Salisbury, Dora and Reg moved to southern Spain, where they enjoyed 18 years together.
Following Reg’s death, Dora returned to the UK and lived with her daughters before moving into Flowers Manor Care Home in Chippenham in 2022.
Her 105th birthday was marked with a violin performance from Sue Lord, who played songs including the wartime favourite It’s a Long Way to Tipperary – a special choice because it was where Reg came from.
Guests also enjoyed afternoon tea and a strawberry and vanilla birthday cake before Dora opened a birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Dora said the greatest invention of her lifetime was elastic.
She said that it was used in underwear, although she reckons it still has room for improvement.
She said: “Sometimes underwear fell down so you had to quickly pick them up and put them in your handbag.”
Dora is now a proud grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of nine and great-great-grandmother of four.
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