Mary Duncan, a 102-year-old resident of Millway House in Weyhill, near Andover, Hampshire, had her dream come true on her birthday when she was surprised by a professional ballroom dancer, Dave Turner. Mary, who has loved dancing since she was a child, was overjoyed to have the chance to dance the waltz with Dave.

Mary, who learned to dance at the age of seven, said, “I’ve always been active and have loved dancing from an early age. Dancing the waltz with Dave today was a dream come true, and the staff here have made a 102-year-old woman very happy.”

Mary, born in South Africa, moved to the UK as a child and served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. She is a mother to two children, grandmother to seven, and great-grandmother to thirteen.

Mary’s care home staff put together this special birthday gift for her because they knew how much she loved dancing. The home manager, Claire Lousteau, described Mary as “fabulous” and “extremely popular.” She also mentioned that Mary was “in her element” while dancing with Dave, who is a retired ballroom dancer with nearly 10 years of competitive experience in ballroom and Latin American dance.

Mr. Turner made sure to dress up for the occasion, and the staff and residents of the care home wore something blue to match Mary’s chosen color scheme. The celebration also included tea and cake.

Richard Adams, CEO of Sears Healthcare, which manages Millway House, expressed his joy that Mary’s birthday wish came true, saying, “I’m thrilled to hear that Mary enjoyed her special day.”

Mary’s story shows that dreams can come true at any age. It’s heartwarming to see how the care home staff went above and beyond to make her birthday memorable. Let’s celebrate the moments that bring happiness and joy to our lives, no matter how old we are.