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21st May 2023
04:04pm BST
A woman celebrated her 101st birthday with a trip to her favourite beach - which she hadn't visited in 25 years.
Dorothy Cattle used to go to the beach at Bournemouth every day after work, but after she retired she stopped going - and hadn't been for a quarter of a century.
So to mark her 101st birthday, staff at her care home in Broadstone, Dorset surprised her with a nostalgic trip.
Delighted Dorothy was taken along the pier and even sank her toes into the sand.
A team of local lifeguards also came to introduce themselves - and they all chatted about their favourite memories of living by the seaside.
Dorothy, previously from Wimborne, said: “This has brought back so many wonderful memories.
"I have missed the smells and the calmness of the beach.
"I enjoy going to the beach so much, because it makes me happy.
“The whole day was truly magical.”
Dorothy, who turned 101 on April 22, used to go for a wander after her work at a bakery shop in Boscombe before she retired.
So the return to the beach, on April 29, was a trip down memory lane.
The grandmother-of-five, has enjoyed riding her bike, knitting, and still enjoys sewing at her care home The Potteries, which is run by Care UK.
She said her secret to a long life is to live every day with a smile.
The trip was planned after Dorothy asked to return to the beach as part of the care home's initiative where residents make requests for activities they'd like to do.
Zita Turner, home manager at The Potteries, said: “Our day trip to Bournemouth was one for the books, and there’s no doubt we’ll still be talking about it for weeks to come.
“Dorothy loves the seaside and has shared countless stories from her time working at a bakery near to Bournemouth Beach.
"So when she made a wish to revisit the beach, we knew we had to make it happen."
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