Porridge and prunes: 106-year-old's health secret

A Wolverhampton woman is staking her claim to be the oldest person in the West Midlands.

Born in Somerset two months before the World War One armistice in 1918, Dora Green turned 106 on 18 September.

She said that the secret to her long life was kindness and a breakfast of porridge and prunes.

Her daughter contacted the BBC after being told of a news report suggesting a 105-year-old could be the oldest person in Wolverhampton, a record Mrs Green was keen to set straight.

Mrs Green was born in Bridgwater. She was educated at St John's school in Worcester where she has fond memories of learning to swim in a nearby river.

"It was alright back then," Mrs Green added.

Her family moved to Low Hill in Wolverhampton in 1929 where she continued her education at Old Fallings School.

She worked in the food office during the Second World War, issuing rations.

She then worked for the Post Office and Wolverhampton Borough Council in clerical positions.

She enjoyed playing the organ and the piano at Springfield's Methodist Church and is a fan of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Mrs Green's first husband and father of her children, George White, died in 1974.

She then married Bernard Green, and the couple spent their honeymoon in Bournemouth.

The pair enjoyed holidaying in Wales and once travelled to the Norwegian fjords.

She has two children, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren: four-year-old Tommy and two-year-old Freddy.

Her great-great grandson Tommy was born during the Covid lockdown. She was was unable to see him for several months but eventually got to meet him in her garden.

“I’ve only ever been kept in the house by three things in my life: snow, World War Two and Coronavirus,” she said at the time.

Mrs Green is very proud of her three birthday cards from the reigning monarch: two from King Charles and one from Queen Elizabeth.

"She was a good'un, always smiling," she said of the late queen.

Mrs Green's daughter Rosemarie, 79, said that her mum was always there to take care of her, even if it took her to unfamiliar places:

"When I was 15, I was mad on Adam Faith and I wanted to go and see him when he came to Wolverhampton.

"Mum had read about Teddy Boys and she was worried they might be at the concert, so she said 'I'm coming with you'. We had a lovely evening!"

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