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'Dancing queen' shows moves at 105th birthday bash

John Devine,in Peterboroughand
Aimee Dexter
John Devine/BBC Elsie Wilkins sits in a chair. She has short white hair and is wearing a white cable knit jumper. To her left there are flowers and cards. John Devine/BBC
Elsie Wilkins, 105, says as soon as she hears music she performs "a little trot"

A woman nicknamed the "dancing queen" at her care home took to the floor on her 105th birthday.

Elsie Wilkins, born in 1921, was given the title by staff at Clayburn Court in Hampton, Peterborough.

"I am feeling my age now... but as soon as I hear the music I do a little trot. I can't dance like I used to but I dance anyway," she said at her party.

Care home manager Jaqueline Nzara said: "She loves dancing and if you put music on she is up straight away and encourages other residents to get up."

Family members at Wednesday's celebration at the care home included four children, nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Another three great-great-grandchildren are due in 2026.

"I feel a bit weaker than what I have been feeling but I am alright, and I will get up and have a dance when they play the music," said the centenarian.

Wilkins Family An old black-and-white, framed portrait of Elsie Wilkins as a young woman. She is wearing an Auxiliary Territorial Service hat and uniform. She is looking at the camera. Wilkins Family
She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service and worked as a cook during World War Two

She was born in Hackney, London, and lived with her three brothers and four sisters.

At 18, she met her husband, William, later working as a machinist making men's shirts.

Retiring to Peterborough in 1985, she moved into Clayburn Court in 2022.

Qays Najm/BBC Sue Corr is on the left. She has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a leopard print top and black trousers. In the middle is Elsie Wilkins who is sat on a chair, and has white hair and is wearing a white jumper and black trousers. On the right is Brian Wilkins who has short brown hair, and is wearing a grey jumper and trousers.Qays Najm/BBC
Daughter, Sue Corr, and son, Brian Wilkins, joined Wednesday's celebrations

Her daughter, Sue Corr, from Peterborough, said: "She worked so hard all of her life to give us everything we wanted."

Brian Wilkins, from Gorleston, her son, said: "If you put the music on she is up and has always been a raver."

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