TWO Ledbury residents held a double celebration recently, because they were born less than three months apart, one century ago .

Dorothy Turner and Daisie Lane-Hill decided to celebrate together, at Shaw healthcare’s Leadon Bank care home, with an afternoon tea party.

Dorothy Turner was born Dorothy Openshaw-Taylor in Golborne, Lancashire, on April 27, 1917.

Dorothy was the eldest daughter and then went to Wigan High School for Girls until she was 16. She then went to college to train to be a secretary learning to type and do shorthand.

Dorothy married her husband Bill Turner in 1939 and had one son. During the war, Dorothy was an ambulance driver at Newton-Lea-Willows. She now has two grandchildren, one girl and one boy, and three great grandchildren all of which are boys.

Dorothy moved to Leadon Bank in 2009.

She said: “My top tip on reaching 100 would simply be to just enjoy life. I would love to be younger - I always kept very active. I used to do a lot of gymnastics and swimming and I’m a big believer in faith. I’m looking forward to turning 100 this month.”

Former head teacher Daisie Lane-Hall, nee Dyer, was born on February 11, 1917 in the village of Long Load, Somerset on a dairy farm.

After school and college in Brighton, she became a teacher at a girls’ secondary school in Birmingham.

This was during the war, and Daisie was evacuated with the children to Burg Hill in Herefordshire.

Daisie met her future husband who was farming hops there. She later went to Exeter where her house was bombed so she was sent back to Somerset to a post in Weston Super Mare.

Daisie married Robert Edward Lane-Hall and their first daughter was born 1945.

They then moved to Kent and Daisie took Headship at a school near Laversham for thirty years.

Her second daughter was born 1951. Daisie retired at sixty to return to a house left for her in Herefordshire, where she remained until her 96th year, before coming to Leadon Bank.

She said: “Keep busy, keep active and don’t be idle: that would be my advice on living life to 100. When I was growing up I lived and worked on a farm were there was always something to do. I’ve done very well to reach 100 and I’m excited to celebrate with my family.”

Leadon Bank scheme manager Steph Hyde said: “It’s unbelievable but true – many happy returns to both Dorothy and Daisie. We celebrated in style with our ladies with a delightful tea party. We provide care for a range of older people here at the home and it’s always a privilege to share the milestone birthdays.”