A SIX generation family is getting ready to celebrate the very special 100th birthday this weekend of their much loved great, great, great grandmother -even though a grand party will have to wait for now.

Betsy Dora Jackson was born on January, 30 in Dent, deep in the Yorkshire Dales. Always known as Dora, she was the eldest child of Fred and Clara Sedgwick. She grew up on the family farm with her six brothers and sisters, and developed a love of animals and nature right from an early age.

She attended school in Chapel-le-dale, and at 14 left home and joined the service. Dora married a farmer, Tom Taylor, and together they farmed at Nelson Farm, Caton for 20 years before retiring to Gargrave, where Dora was sadly widowed.

She met her second husband, Tom Jackson, through their love of dancing and they married at Gargrave Church and moved to a bungalow on Lingthwaite farm at Eldroth. On their retirement they moved to a bungalow in Giggleswick where they enjoyed their garden, coach holidays in the English countryside and kept up their love of dancing.

Sadly, after 46 years of marriage Dora was widowed once again and now lives at Carleton Court, Skipton.

Throughout her life, Dora has had a passion for dancing, she has also enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking and baking, and has always loved children. She has one daughter, Delia, and a granddaughter, Caroline. She is also a great grandma to Claire and Julie, and great, great grandma to Nicole, Shannon, Amber, jasmine-lily, Tilly, Maxwell and George.

Lastly, she is great great great grandma to Effie and Bear with a third great great great grandchild due in early April.

Julie Roberts, one of Dora’s great grandchildren, said: “It is lovely to be part of such a close knit family and six generations is truly fascinating. One highlight for me was watching my son George showing Dora how to play a game on his Ipad.”

Julie added: “It is lovely and special that the great great great grandchildren got to meet Dora and Tom as not many children or grandparents get to do that.

“Dora’s great, great grandchildren have always loved visiting Dora and Tom and have lovely memories to cherish. For all Dora’s great, great, great grandchildren it’s something very special and unique to be part of our six generation family.”

Dora’s daughter Delia and granddaughter, Caroline, live in Skipton, while, great grandchildren. Claire and Julie and their families live in Lincolnshire, as both husbands serve in the Royal Air Force.

“We will be celebrating Dora’s birthday with a lovely family party once Covid permits, “ said Julie.

“But we will make Dora’s day as special as possible with gifts, flowers, balloons and lots of cake. Dora will also enjoy celebrating with the lovely staff and residents of her home at Carleton Court residential home in Skipton.”