Tower and Town, May 2021

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Family News

Many thanks to Rev. Henry Pearson for the following information:

Doreen Marie Dunsby was born in 1937 and brought up in Devizes. She began her working life at T. H. White, aged 15, staying there until she married John in 1967. The couple met at the Devizes Carnival and their first date was an evening at the Marlborough Mop Fair. After 10 months of married life, they moved to Barrow Close.

Throughout her life, Doreen faced illness and disability. Her first admission to hospital took place at the age of eighteen months and during her life she would have eleven operations on her hips and knees, as well as other procedures. She faced every challenge with courage and determination. To quote a poem by her daughter, Claire,

You never knew her pain or suffering inside
She never moaned or complained, it was always there to hide

Doreen immersed herself in Marlborough life. She worked at the Methodist playgroup and was secretary to the Bishop of Ramsbury as well as to two Rectors of Marlborough, Jeremy Walsh and Wilfred Down. She was a longstanding member, helper and worshipper at St Mary’s Church, Marlborough. Later on in life she worked at Amor and Ellis. She was volunteer secretary to the gardening club and the ladies' Phoenix club. She loved baking and giving parties. She taught children to cook at school and helped her own grandchildren win awards for their baking and painting. She relished the skills required for flower arranging, calligraphy and singing in a choir. She helped create the Barrow Close floats for the Marlborough Carnival which always came first. She had a keen sense of fun and loved playing games which endeared her to everyone.

Doreen and John moved back to Devizes in 2016. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2017 with a party at Bishops Cannings accompanied by a peal of bells from the nearby church. Altogether they were married for 54 years.

Doreen is survived by her husband, John, her two children, Mike and Claire, and her four granddaughters, Isabella, Daisy, Lotti and Abi

Jessy Pomfret