Dorothy reaches legal drinking age at last

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Saturday 4th Mar 2000.

ILKLEY'S Dorothy Allen has just enjoyed her first legal drink - at the tender age of 72.

Miss Allen, of Leeds Road, is one of the select number born on February 29 - a leap year.

This means she is only able to officially celebrate her birthday once every four years. She has enjoyed a longer childhood than most, celebrating her 18th birthday 54 years later than her peers.

Far from being upset by this quirk of fate, Miss Allen has always revelled in the opportunities it provides.

"Oh, my birthday is always a two or three-day affair every year. I don't celebrate on one particular date," she joked.

Miss Allen walked into the Wharfedale Gate pub in Leeds Road on Tuesday to celebrate her `18th' with a glass or two of champagne. She was greeted by numerous balloons covered with `Happy 18th' logos.

"I had always planned to have a real `do' for my 18th and I am having a wonderful day," she said.

Tina Clarke, manageress of the Wharfedale Gate, said: "Dorothy normally drinks lemonade but I am sure she will enjoy her first drink as an 18-year-old. She is valued friend and customer and we wanted to help her celebrate."

Miss Allen is not the only Ilkley resident celebrating an unusual birthday. Eight-year-old Georgia Newmarch, a pupil at All Saints Primary School, was eight on February 29, or should that be two? A school spokeswoman said: "Georgia had a lovely day although I'm not too sure she was happy about people suggesting she was only two-years-old.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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