101-year-old woman is Britain’s oldest ice skater
Mrs Gunn with her helper Rachel Mohidin
A 101-YEAR-OLD former teacher has become Britain’s oldest ice skater.
Daredevil centenarian Hilda Gunn was taken for a surprise 45-minute spin around Worthing’s open-air ice rink – in her wheelchair.
She was joined at Steyne Gardens by Rachel Mohidin, owner and manager of Meadowcroft care home, Buckingham Road, Shoreham, where Hilda has lived for about five years.
Natasha Trigwell, deputy manager of the home, said: “She thoroughly enjoyed the experience, which was a surprise for her. It was something different, which she will remember.”
Rink organisers were hoping for a sunny end to the half-term week after the first fortnight was dogged by poor weather.
Worthing Town Centre Initiative hired the facility for a third year in succession to boost shops, cafés and restaurants at a seasonally quiet time of year.
Rink success
Now town centre manager Sharon Clarke has called on residents to rally round between now and the last day – Sunday, March 6.
She said: “The rain is affecting the usage of the rink and in the first 15 days of operation, we had only five days without rain.
“However, so far, we have managed to keep the rink open.
“Saturday, February 12, was the busiest day we have seen on the ice in three years.
“A lot of people have asked about covering the rink so the rain does not affect its operation.
“We have investigated this but it would require a costly circus marquee, and on a lovely day you cannot beat skating in the fresh air.
“The booking from furthest away came from Prague; a party from Roedean School, Brighton, visited, and our youngest skater was four.”
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Weather for Worthing
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
