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Norah's 100th Birthday

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Sir Captain Tom Moore hasn't been the only person with the surname of Moore to celebrate their 100th birthday in the last few weeks!
Wimborne Methodist Church had planned a party at their premises to celebrate the 100th birthday of Norah Moore, one of their longest standing members, but this had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, members of the church and neighbours were determined that this very special day for a very special woman would be marked in style with a social distancing street party with bubbles and cake. There were banners outside and her many cards filled the windowsills of her home. She also received bunches of flowers. And keeping two metres apart, Norah went round to have a good chat with all her guests.
During the Second World War, Norah, who was born in Esher, served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a sergeant mechanic based in Salisbury. "I remember VE Day very well," she said. "I stood outside and was absolutely speechless." After the war she moved to Bournemouth, working as a florist in Westover Road, and that is where she met her husband Ray, who sadly died in 2016 at the age of 93. "Ray's family had a nursery and he delivered chrysanthemums to the shop. He asked me out and subsequently we got married in Wimborne Methodist Church in 1948."
The church was pivotal to their lives and both Ray and Norah were trustees. "I started the coffee lounge 52 years ago, and I've been lucky enough to be asked to open all the new developments," said Norah. Ray's family business Moore and Son Ltd, which produced tomatoes and cucumbers, was based at Walford Nursery, which once occupied the site of the Allenview Estate.
Clearly Ray and Norah loved the area, as they made their home on the estate, where Norah lives to this day. "I still enjoy my garden, and I go for walks around the area whenever I can," said Norah.
Photos show Norah with her daughter, Jacqui, granddaughters Elspeth and Fenella, and great grandsons Austin and Toby. Text and photographs courtesy of Marilyn Barber at 4Dorset and Viewpoint Magazines

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