Cobourg Woman Celebrates 95th Birthday Going For A Ride In Sidecar

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

A Cobourg woman celebrated her 95th birthday doing something she had never done before.

Dorathy Marie Harnden took a trip around Cobourg in a side-car.

Her daughter, Melindah Knott came up with the idea.

“What do you buy somebody whose 95?”

“She has everything.”

But Knott remembers many years ago her mother that when their father retired, the husband and wife were going to buy a motorcycle with a sidecar.

Knott’s father passed away in 2001 and the couple didn’t get that dream of driving off into the sunset in the motorcycle/sidecar.

“That never happened, so we thought why not make it happen for her 95th.”

Knott put a post out on Facebook looking for someone who had a sidecar that could help out with the special present.

Within an hour a person contacted her and it was set up for Harnden to go for a ride in a sidecar.

Terry Bell from Perry Street in Cobourg graciously volunteered his services along with his 2013 Ural which is a Russian made motorcycle that was used as a troop carrier for the Russian Army.

“She was absolutely surprised,” said Knott.

It didn’t take the birthday girl long to hop in the sidecar without much help.

The helmet was put in place, and a few extra blankets were tossed in – suddenly the engine started up and the smile from Harnden became contagious to her family in attendance.

After a few photos, Bell and Harnden were off for the 20-minute drive around Cobourg including the harbour.

“It was good,” said Harnden.

“I saw a lot of Cobourg I’ve never seen for years.”

Bell said his riding partner was “great company.”

“She knew a lot of the old history of Cobourg – we had a good time.”

Harnden was born to Madeline and Joseph Johnston. She was the oldest of seven children and was out on her own by age 14 looking after a distant relative’s wife and new baby. Even at a young age, she loved to listen to music and was often found with her best friend Hazel, looking for a dance to attend.

She married Cliff Harnden in 1945 and they went on to have five children living in Cobourg and Cold Springs.

Harnden was an avid volunteer and devoted many hours to 4-H, the United Church, Hamilton Township Hall Board, Women’s Institute to name a few. She is now the proud grandmother to nine, “big” grandma to nine (almost 10!) and great, great grandmother to one.

She also is “gramma” to many fur babies.

Harnden walks every day, works on jigsaw puzzles and loves to have visits with family and friends.