IN 1911, the ocean liner Titanic was launched in Belfast, suffragettes stormed Parliament and Dorothy Armour was born.

Fast forward to 2019 and women have had the right to vote for more than 100 years, the Titanic has gone down in history and Miss Armour is celebrating her 108th birthday.

She claims the title as the oldest resident of the Harwich area, one of the oldest in Essex and only three years younger than Hilda Clulow, who at 111-years-old is the oldest person in the country.

The sprightly Dovercourt pensioner attributes her longevity to having lived a healthy lifestyle as a youngster including lots of cycling.

Miss Armour was born three years before the start of the First World War in Ilford on December 7.

During the First World War she was evacuated to Canvey Island and travelled to school in a pony and trap.

When she finished school, she took a secretarial course which she completed in 1930 with certificates in Pitman shorthand at an impressive 120 words per minute.

Gazette:

Miss Armour’s first job was working for a shoe company in Finsbury Circus, in east London, when she was in her twenties.

During the Second World War, she worked for the County Medical Officer at County Hall in Chelmsford.

She lived with her sister during the week and helped to care for her two nephews.

At the weekends, Miss Armour rode her back-pedalling bicycle 11 miles to Fambridge to look after her parents.

Her sister and family moved to Dovercourt in 1947 and following the death of her parents, Miss Armour moved to the town too in 1972.

Miss Armour continued to live independently until she turned 100.

Since moving to Lime Court residential home in Dovercourt, Miss Armour has become renowned for her bubbly personality and her love of singing.

Gazette:

Her favourite song is I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles.

During the past few years Miss Armour has held parties at the home to mark her birthday milestones.

She had a 1920s themed party in 2016, a get together at the home with friends and relatives in 2017 and a tea party with 39 other care home residents last year.

This year, she will celebrate her birthday tomorrow in style again with tea and cake with her carers, friends and family members and a visit from the Harwich mayor.

Sarah Meachen, lifestyle co-ordinator at Lime Court, said: “Dorothy is looking forward to celebrating her special day.

“We have the mayor and mayoress of Harwich Alan and Sylvia Todd visiting her in the morning to wish her a happy birthday.

“She will be having a birthday tea party in the afternoon for herself, our residents and her family and friends to attend.”