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Five generations from one family came together to celebrate the birthday of Ashford centenarian Una Dossett

Holding her newly-born great, great grand-daughter was a special delight for Una Dossett at a family reunion for her 100th birthday.

Five generations came together to celebrate the century of the well known Ashford WI member, of Lower Queens Road.

Her great, great grand-daughter Ffion was born on July 22, the same day as Prince George, extending Mrs Dossett’s clan of two sons, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.

Una Dossett celebrating her 100th birthday with baby Ffion and five generations of her family. Picture taken by Gary Browne
Una Dossett celebrating her 100th birthday with baby Ffion and five generations of her family. Picture taken by Gary Browne

Ffion and her family joined Mrs Dossett from Wales with grandson Neal travelling from Canada for the party, which was also attended by friends and neighbours.

Mrs Dossett was born on July 31 1913 at Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk. Her family moved to Ramsgate where her parents ran a fish and chip shop during the First World War.

Educated there at Chatham House Grammar School, she went onto study at Loughborough University where she qualified as a teacher.

Her son added: “She is an amazing woman. She is very articulate and well educated. She has always been everybody’s friend, someone who would do anything for anybody.”

Her career took her to Wincheap Primary School, Canterbury, and Stalisfield Primary School, near Faversham, where she worked during the Second World War.

During this time she married Fred Lilliott and had two sons, Michael and Chris. She moved to Ashford in 1946 and owned and ran The Corner Shop in South Willesborough, followed by Rayners store in 1948.

Mrs Dossett retired in 1978 and moved to Greatstone, returning to Ashford when she was widowed from second husband Gordon Dossett.

She is a member of the Ashford WI and a past secretary of the New Romney branch.

Mrs Dossett still enjoys all kinds of crafts, making all her own birthday and Christmas cards and is a keen painter. For years she has once a week taught handicrafts to half a dozen friends at her home.

On one occasion she had them knitting blankets after hearing that there was a shortage for infants whose mothers were in Holloway women’s prison.

Centenarian Una Dossett, of Ashford, pictured in 1936.
Centenarian Una Dossett, of Ashford, pictured in 1936.

Mrs Dossett is an avid card player, including cribbage, a keen scrabble player, and completes a daily crossword.

Son Chris described her game skills as “lethal”. His mother managed all her own finances, was self supporting and had an extremely sharp brain.

Keeping up with the times, she taught herself how to use a computer, aged 91, using it play solitaire, bridge and scrabble, write letters and share photographs.

Granddaughter-in-law Pam Lilliott attributed Mrs Dossett’s longevity to the fact that she has always kept herself busy and is a stickler to a healthy diet, being particularly keen eating fish.

Her son added: “She is an amazing woman. She is very articulate and well educated. She has always been everybody’s friend, someone who would do anything for anybody.”

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