Grandmother, 99, who's been dancing since the age of three and performed for royalty reveals she's doing six dance workouts a week to raise money for the NHS before she turns 100
- Dinkie Flowers, who turns 100 in May, has been dancing since the age of three
- Travelled world to showcase skills and even danced in front of Iraqi Royal Family
- Now, 99, she runs keep fit lessons and dances every day to raise money for NHSA former pro dancer runs dancing and keep fit lessons and dances every day to raise money for the NHS - aged 99.
Grandmother-of-four Dinkie Flowers, from Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, turns 100 in May - and has been dancing since the age of three.
The mum-of-one has travelled the world to showcase her skills - including Baghdad to dance in front of the Iraqi Royal Family.She still runs dancing classes from her garage three times a week - but had to wind down due to the pandemic.
Now, Dinkie is raising money for the NHS - dedicating herself to six workouts per week right up until her birthday on May 7.
Dinkie Flowers, from Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, turns 100 in May - and has been dancing since the age of three. Pictured, during her lifetime of dancing
The former pro dancer runs dancing and keep fit lessons and dances every day to raise money for the NHS. Pictured, aged 99 at her dance class
The mum-of-one has travelled the world to showcase her skills - including Baghdad to dance in front of the Iraqi Royal Family. Pictured, during her lifetime of dancing
The widow, whose NHS fundraiser was set up by a friend, said: 'Everybody says to me - what would you like to do if you could start all over again? I've always said this is what I'd do, I wouldn't change a thing.'
Dinkie has been teaching dance and keep fit classes right up until the first lockdown.But from now until her 100th birthday - she will be doing three 45 minute keep fit sessions and three 20 minute walks a week - to raise money for the NHS Charities Together.
'I love it. I love dancing,' she sprightly dancer Dinkie. 'I hate telling people [when they ask] "how old are you Dinkie?"
'What the hell does it matter how old I am? I'm still living and I'm still going strong. It doesn't matter whether I'm 30 or 100!
'I'm a terror for work. I don't work because I like it. I work because I love it. I think the thing is, not to sit on your bum all day. Do things. I have never stopped.
The grandmother-of-four has been dancing since the age of three. Pictured, at the start of her dancing career
Dinkie learnt her skills at London's Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Pictured, during her lifetime of dancing
After falling in love with ice skating (pictured), Dinkie also went on to skate and dance all over the world
Dinkie, now 99, still runs dancing classes from her garage three times a week - but had to wind down due to the pandemic (pictured)
Now, aged 99, Dinkie is raising money for the NHS - dedicating herself to six workouts per week right up until her birthday on May 7 (pictured, during her dance class)
'Ballet, tap modern, demi character, all of it. I've been all over the world dancing. I think anyone can dance, even if it's only a little. It does you the world of good for one thing. Your using your body.
'I mean, how does anybody expect in this world, to have a good body, walk well, feel well, if they're not doing anything? It's impossible.'
Dinkie's friend Lesley added: 'She's so amazing - there can't be many people who are 100 and can do what she does.
'She's on the floor running on the spot it's incredible. Her posture is amazing - she can do anything I can do. 'She's also had an amazing life.'
Dinkie learnt her skills at London's Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Dinkie went on to marry husband George, who managed the famous Raymond Revuebar in London. He died in 2005, Pictured, together
Dinkie said it doesn't matter whether she's '30 or 100' - she's 'still going strong.' Pictured, left and right, during her lifetime of dancing
The sprightly dancer said it's important 'not to sit on your bum all day' - adding she has 'never stopped.' Pictured, during her lifetime of dancing
Dinkie explained that she has done everything from 'ballet, tap modern, demi character, all of it'. Pictured, left and right, during her lifetime of dancing
The sprightly dancer said it's impossible' for people to 'have a good body' and 'feel well' if they're not doing anything. Pictured, during her lifetime of dancing
After falling in love with ice skating, she also went on to skate and dance all over the world.
She even performing for Prince Philip at an Ice Gala in 1952 for which she received a royal letter of thanks.
Through the British embassy - Dinkie also travelled to Iraq to teach the royal family ice skating - but miscommunication nearly resulted in the dancer being forced to stay.
Lesley said: 'They wanted to teach them (Iraqi royal family) about refrigeration.
'Dinkie was one of the leading people - and they built an ice rink for the royal family In Iraq.
'Dinkie taught the prince and was there for a few months. When it was time to go - some sheikh who bought the rink thought she came with it! He thought he'd bought the rink and that he'd also have her.'
The grandmother-of-four even performed for Prince Philip at an Ice Gala in 1952 for which she received a royal letter of thanks. Pictured, ice skating
Through the British embassy - Dinkie also travelled to Iraq to teach the royal family ice skating (pictured) - but miscommunication nearly resulted in the dancer being forced to stay
Dinkie's friend Lesley said she's amazing.' Pictured, the sprightly dancer during her lifetime of dancing
Dinkie has been teaching dance and keep fit classes right up until the first lockdown. Pictured, during her lifetime of dancing
At 98 years-old, Dinkie made her TV debut tap dancing her way through the auditions to appear on The Greatest Dancer.
Dinkie went on to marry husband George, who managed the famous Raymond Revuebar in London.
He died in 2005. The couple had a daughter Sarah and four grandchildren.
A link to Dinkie's fundraiser can be found via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lesley-tomlinson2
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