100th birthday celebrations in Burringham for Dolly Harling - former Scunthorpe Telegraph contributor

A POET and former contributor to the Scunthorpe Telegraph has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Dolly Harling – whose real name is Violet Ann – celebrated her landmark birthday with friends, family and staff at a party at Holly House care home in Burringham.

Violet gained the nickname Dolly as it was said in her youth that she resembled a doll.

She says she cannot stand being called Violet Ann and much prefers Dolly.

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The centenarian has been a resident in Scunthorpe all of her life. Her father, who was originally a barber, was killed in 1918 in the First World War.

She has worked in various jobs around the town, writing poems for the Telegraph and articles in the former Scunthorpe Target about Scunthorpe's past. Dolly also worked at one time as an usherette at the Jubilee cinema in the town. Her husband Tom also worked at the cinema as a projectionist, although he died in 1980.

Joy Nainby, Dolly's only daughter, said: "Dolly is happy to have reached the 100 mark, but she doesn't feel that old."

When Dolly received her card from the Queen, she said she was "touched and couldn't believe it".

Despite her advancing years, Dolly joined in her party and could be seen singing, with her legs tapping along.

Speaking of Dolly, son-in- law Mike Nainby said: "She's sharing, caring and unselfish. If she has a box of chocolates, she is quick to offer them round."

He also said how his mother-in-law can remember a time when there was no electricity in the home and the street lights were powered by gas.

The family said that Dolly was also a fantastic seamstress and made her daughter's wedding dress, along with the bridesmaids' dresses – a skill that she passed onto her granddaughter.