Torvill and Dean send special message to Essex pensioner

Doreen Barber, 97, from Stansted, started skating, aged 12, before the Second World War and described her return to the ice after many years as “wonderful”.

Organised by her Mountfitchet House care home, the visit to Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford saw Doreen put on her skates and whizz around the rink on a wheelchair.

She also received a video message from former Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean (Image: PA)

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Touched by her story and speaking from the studio of ITV’s Dancing On Ice, Jane told Doreen: “We hope you enjoyed going back on to the ice again.”

Christopher added: “We wish you all the very best and keep on watching and whenever you get a chance to get to the rink, come down to the ice rink.”

Doreen said: “Imagine being my age and being on the ice – I never thought I’d see the day!

"It was so much fun and I had a wonderful time.

“I’m touched that Torvill and Dean would take the time to do this for me.

“I feel like a celebrity – people will have to pay to talk to me now.”

Doreen (front centre) with (back row, left to right) nurse Lisa Scott, her daughter Nina Martin and Jess Wolohan, lifestyle co-ordinator at her care home, and fellow residents Gewn Alp (front left) and Peggy Shaw (front right) (Image: PA)

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Doreen, who was joined by several other residents, had been a keen skater since she was a youngster but had to temporarily stop when the Second World War broke out.

She was able to return to skating after the war and skated regularly throughout her life, teaching her children and husband to skate too.

Despite not being on the ice for many years, Doreen’s love for the sport never faded.

She has watched Dancing On Ice each year and regularly shared fond memories with her carers and other residents about her skating days.

Doreen loved her return to the skating rink (Image: PA)

The visit was part of Mountfitchet House’s Wishing Tree Initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new.

Home manager Joanna Duke said: “Ms Barber often talks fondly about when she used to ice skate, so when she expressed a desire to give it another go we were thrilled to help make it happen.”