A GRANDMOTHER who starred in a television show about ageism has vowed that the next adventure is just around the corner.

Channel 4 documentary, Working With Dinosaurs, followed Dorothy Morton as she became an air stewardess at the age of 74.

It was a career that never interested Dorothy, of High Etherley, in Teesdale, until makers of the documentary approached her.

The production company got her name from Open University, after gaining a degree in history and social science aged 73.

She said: "They asked my views about today's youth and my first reaction was 'they're pathetic', so many wait for things to fall on their lap instead of going out to grab life's opportunities.

"That obviously got their attention because from 300 people they contacted, I was one of six invited to an interview for the programme.

"I was told I could work in fashion or become an aeroplane cabin crew member.

"I chose the second, I knew I would have no trouble sorting out rowdy passengers!"

So at East Midlands Airport, Dorothy teamed up with other trainees, most in their early 20s, to become a Britannia Airways flight assistant.

She said: "The age gap made no difference, we all gelled and became good friends.

"It was wonderful to 'win my wings' and serve for real on a flight from Newcastle to Tenerife, I felt a great sense of achievement and showed anything is possible."

And that has always been Dorothy's philosophy.

Her zest for life stems from her childhood, after living through WWII during which her father, John Henry Hunt, went missing in Dunkirk but was later found in a hospital.

"I was so grateful when the war ended I decided to take and appreciate all life offers, so worked hard at a builders' merchants so I could travel.

"I visited Russia, the Caribbean and Egypt for the adventure and romance," she said.

At 40 she married former Stanhope Primary School headteacher Stephen Morton, and had a son Jonathan, now 33 with two daughters. She returned to work in research, after Stephen died of a heart attack, until retiring at 67.

She said: "Life didn't stop there, I'm not one for sitting at home, I'd rather educate myself and try new things.

"I'm not sure what's next but something interesting is bound to come along.

"I saw an advert for an Atlantic Challenge, to sail across the ocean and back in a yacht and briefly considered it but decided to wait for something else instead."