Woman's 'siesta a day' credited for long life

A woman whose "siesta a day" is credited as her secret to a long and happy life has celebrated her 105th birthday.

Dora Horsfall, who was born on 2 November 1921, was joined by family earlier as she marked her special day at Flowers Manor Care Home in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Describing her grandmother Dora as a "beautiful soul" who "likes to sleep", Mandy Cheeseman said: "I think that could be why she's so preserved, because she has a siesta every day, even when we were little ones."

Dora said the "the great thing" from her birthday celebrations had been "rejoicing" with her loved ones.

Violinist Sue Lord played songs such as Danny Boy in the morning, before the birthday group gathered for afternoon tea later in the day.

After everyone had sung Happy Birthday to her, Horsfall thanked them for coming to the "very nice" celebrations.

Born in London, Dora and her brother Jack were sent to West London District boarding school. The facility looked after children who were orphaned, abandoned or - as in the siblings' case - living in poverty.

The family then moved to Salisbury when Dora was 13.

Dora later decided to return to the capital where she met her husband Reg, who she married in Croydon on 23 December 1941.

Soon after, the couple moved back to Salisbury, where Dora had various jobs including as a bus conductor - also known as a clippy - and in production at one of the secret Spitfire aircraft factories.

Reg and Dora would later move to Spain, where they lived up until his death.

Dora, who has two daughters, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren, moved to Flowers Manor Care Home in 2022.

Describing her grandmother as her "favourite person" and "magic", Cheeseman said: "I wish I could be half the lady she is."

"She's fun, she's got a wicked laugh," she added.

Her family said whenever Dora was asked her age, she would often respond: "I am the same age as my little finger and slightly older than my teeth."

Dora also credits elastic as the most exciting invention of her lifetime "because it was used in knickers" and they "hadn't perfected" underwear before then.

She added: "Sometimes it [underwear] fell down so you had to quickly pick them up and put them in your handbag!"

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