POOLE centenarian Dora Heckford died peacefully on Tuesday, October 15, aged 104.

She was born in Poole on September 14, 1909, and remained in the town throughout her long life.

Her mother was born on Brownsea, one of the last villagers evicted from the Island, and became the second wife of master builder John Rigler, Sheriff of Poole.

Mrs Heckford was one of 13 children born to the pair, alongside 11 other siblings born to Mr Rigler’s previous wife. Several of her brothers became builders themselves.

She grew up in Rigler Road in Hamworthy, named after the family, attending local schools, and married plumber Fred Heckford at age 18.

Around the same time she attended the opening of the first Poole Bridge. She was also aguest at the opening of the Twin Sails Bridge 85 years later.

In the 1930s, Mr and Mrs Heckford – who had two children, Norman and Grace – moved to Carters Avenue and later to Rockley Road where they remained for the next 75 years.

During the war Mrs Heckford worked as a welder and her husband worked on the boats at the quayside.

Sadly he was caught in a fuel tank explosion while working at Newman’s shipyard, and was out of work for more than two years, during which she became the sole bread-winner for the family.

She worked at the White Horse Laundry in Sterte, and in the evenings and at weekends sold cockles caught by her fisherman brother on the quayside.

She was still working into her 80s making jar lids at the Metalbox factory in Hamworthy.

Mr Heckford died aged 64, but the pair had four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In her later years she had many friends at the Help the Aged pop-in club in Skinner Street, which she was still visited aged 103, and from the Salvation Army.

She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2009 with a ride along Poole Quay on the back of a Harley Davidson.

A funeral service will be held at 10am today at Poole Crematorium. Family flowers only.