Dora celebrates her 100th birthday

Dora Twigg, who turned 100 on February 2, is described as a “knitting machine” by her family.

Grandson Chris Rhodes said: “She sits daily in a little chair by the window and knits her little heart out. Her knitted creations bring smiles to faces and in some cases a little bit of comfort for impoverished children around the world. Letters and cards stamped with foreign post marks trickle in and encourage her to keep going.”

Born in Riddings, Dora left school at 14 to work at Edwards hosiery factory. Here she met Tom Twigg and they married in 1934. In her youth Dora was a keen ballroom dancer, a member of the Welcome Inn social club, in Codnor, and also the Ripley Fellowship.

A birthday letter was sent from the Queen. Chris said: “She was chuffed to bits with it - but I think it soon became overshadowed by the guests, presents and masses of flowers that soon started to pile up!

“The knitting goes all over the world. Sometimes the local church sends them off to various projects in Africa. Otherwise they make it to friends and family all over the world.”