Shoreham dancer Dinkie Flowers celebrates 103rd birthday

Dinkie Flowers, who is well known in Shoreham where she lives, said she hopes to “keep dancing” throughout her life.

Dinkie, who performed on the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer in 2020 when she was 98, said: “Dancing is my life.”

She was born in 1921 and began dancing at the age of three. She went on to become an international skater and stage star.

She travelled the world to dance, performing in front of the Royal Family in Baghdad and for Prince Philip in Paris in 1952.

She was arrested in 1940s Paris for wearing a “risqué” red playsuit to perform, as it was associated with illegal prostitution at the time.

Dinkie and her husband George had a daughter Sarah and she followed in her footsteps to become a professional dancer. 

Grandmother-of-four Dinkie still dances several times a week and goes for walks every day to keep fit.

Dinkie Flowers (Image: SWNS)

Her carer Lesley Tomlinson said: “She’s always up for fun and is fit as a fiddle.

“As you can see she is still amazing with what she can do.

MOST READ:

• The tiny Sussex hamlet home to a magical tunnel of trees

• 'Noise from tenants smoking, drinking and partying at all hours is intolerable'

• Trendy shopping street struggles despite being loved by shoppers and tourists

​To have access to all of our best stories subscribe to The Argus here

“I think she must be a one off because a lot of people half her age can’t do what she does – she is quite incredible.

“Dinkie hasn’t changed, she looks exactly the same and the girls who come and see her can’t believe how mobile she is.

Dinkie Flowers (Image: SWNS)

“She had one pupil who started dancing with her when she was just three. She is 50 now and still comes to dance with Dinkie for about an hour every week.

“Dinkie's skin is very frail but nurses say she’s incredible and at our local doctors she’s a celebrity.”

Dinkie, who celebrated her big birthday with friends and family earlier this week, learned dancing at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London and went on to ice skate across the world.

At one point, she was also the only British acrobatic skater.