Council chairman visits 100-year-old Worksop resident- and discovers the lady is her auntie

Emotions were high when the chairman of Bassetlaw District Council went to present an 100-year-old Worksop woman with a gift- and discovered she was actually her long lost great aunt.
Bassetlaw District Council Chairman Madelaine Richardson reminiscing with her Great Aunt 100 year old Dot FinchBassetlaw District Council Chairman Madelaine Richardson reminiscing with her Great Aunt 100 year old Dot Finch
Bassetlaw District Council Chairman Madelaine Richardson reminiscing with her Great Aunt 100 year old Dot Finch

Councillor Madelaine Richardson visited the Lanercost Mews home of Dot Finch to congratulate her on turning 100 and was “delighted” to discover the pair were related by marriage. Madelaine, who represents Worksop North East ward, said: “It was such a wonderful surprise. I’d taken some flowers, chocolates and a card along and it’s strange, because I’d always remembered my mum mentioning a Dot Finch, but I just didn’t put two and two together.

“Me, Dot and her nephew Des Finch chatted about where our families had lived over the years- I said I had relatives on Eastgate nearby.

“Dot said she knew someone who lived on Eastgate, a Florence Howard. I replied that she was my nan.

Bassetlaw District Council Chairman Madelaine Richardson reminiscing with her Great Aunt 100 year old Dot FinchBassetlaw District Council Chairman Madelaine Richardson reminiscing with her Great Aunt 100 year old Dot Finch
Bassetlaw District Council Chairman Madelaine Richardson reminiscing with her Great Aunt 100 year old Dot Finch

“To my amazement, Dot said her brother, Howard, had married my nan in 1939.

“I had been tending to my nan’s grave along with Horace’s grave at Retford Road all along.

“Dot said- take your glasses off, which I did, and she said- yes, you look just like your mum.”

Madelaine said Florence and Howard, had a daughter, Florence, in 1940. She now lives in southern Ireland and Madelaine is in contact with her, so was able to put her in touch with Dot.

Madelaine added: “After my visit I went home and dug out my mum’s old address book, she’s been passed away eight years now. Sure enough, there was Dot with the street she used to live on crossed out, and then Lanercost Mews, where she lives now. I’m not sure why Dot was always mentioned and we never saw her, but I’m really glad to have found her.

Madelaine says she plans to visit Dot on the regular.

“Dot is an amazing person,” she said. “She’s still living independently at 100, bar a community carer that checks in on her. She was really happy to have found a relative in Worksop and I look forward to getting to know her more.”