DURING her working life as a midwife at Epsom Hospital, Molly Nye was always too busy delivering thousands of babies to go dancing.
But now, at the age of 100 and with a little more time on her hands, the lifelong Bookham resident has finally discovered a passion for the hobby.
Along with up to 13 fellow residents of the Southey Court sheltered housing complex, Mrs Nye spends one hour every Tuesday morning line-dancing to country and western tunes like the Cowboy Charleston.
The centenarian told the Advertiser: "I was always interested in dancing but always too busy to do it.
"I was always delivering babies and I had a lot of enjoyment out of that. Every baby I delivered was mine as I never had any of my own. That's something that God didn't do for me, but my husband George and I were very happy.
"He was no dancer either, although we did the occasional waltz and foxtrot.
"But line-dancing here makes me happy and we do laugh a lot. While you're alive you must always see that you are happy."
Fellow line-dancer Dolly Alexander, 93, added: "We have lots of entertainment here but this is the most enjoyable one.
"It's helped me very much with my balance. When I first started I couldn't do it at all, but now I go right through the dances.
"We'll be on Strictly at this rate!"
The sessions – run by adult education provider WEA East Surrey – involve seated exercises followed by six traditional line- dancing routines with breaks in between.
This week's class was attended by nine ladies with a combined age of 828, many of whom joined in with every dance.
Ashtead-based instructor Jane Arnett paid tribute to the positive and adventurous spirit of the class she has taught for the last 18 months.
Mrs Arnett, 46, said: "It's a really happy, lovely place to come because everyone's attitude is so good. I teach other groups of similar ages but they don't tend to stand up. This lot get bored with seated exercises and want to get up and dance – that's the difference.
"Molly is the only person over the age of 100 I have ever taught and she is a real inspiration. They all are.
"They still want to learn and to have a giggle and that's what I want to do when I'm older."
Penny Chester, who manages Southey Court for Mole Valley Housing Association, said the class had made a big difference to the wellbeing of her residents.
