Harley-Davidson ‘burn-up’ for 90-year-old Dorothy Mills

Dorothy Mills, who lives in Stamford Bridge, marked her landmark birthday with a ‘burn-up’ around the parish of Sand Hutton from St Mary’s Church last Sunday (August 4) – on the back of the Reverend Nigel Benson’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Dot, as she is known, said: “I said a little prayer before we started off and afterwards I told Nigel ‘Next time, we’re going to Whitby for fish and chips.’

“He said he’d keep the bike helmet I wore ready.

“All the parishioners were outside clapping and cheering.”

The 'burn-up' was cheered off and clapped home by St Mary's other parishioners (Image: Vanessa Fitzpatrick)

Dot said that the church, part of the Harton Benefice, is a central part of her life, where she was christened, married, attends service on Wednesdays and Sundays and where her husband Bryan - who was church warden there for 40 years - is buried.

Daughter Vanessa Fitzpatrick said: “When we welcomed Nigel as the vicar last year we were admiring the Harley and mum said she remembered riding pillion on a BSA motorbike in the early 1950s out to Scarborough.

“Mum’s a good sport and she’s always had a good sense of humour.”

Other members of the family have shown their support, with niece Sarah Jennings-Wood loaning Dot a biker jacket and supplying a Harley-Davidson branded t-shirt.

Dot told Revd Benson their next trip would be to Whitby for fish and chips (Image: Vanessa Fitzpatrick)

The 90-year-old’s brother-in-law Bryan Jennings has said her next birthday treat should be a bungee jump, with Dot herself putting her name forward for a more sedate present – a helicopter ride.