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Mrs Doreen P Edwards

18 March 2014

Doreen became a great supporter of the Star and Garter when her father, James Arthur Ablett, became a resident in the late 1960’s. It was Doreen’s wish that instead of flowers at her funeral donations should be made to the Star and Garter in memory of her father.

Doreen was a much loved wife to Glyn, stepmother to Glyn Junior and Karen, sister to Pauline and Daphne and Aunt to Linda and Suzanne. She was the second daughter of James and Florence (Flossie) Ablett and spent most her childhood growing up in Balham, South London, apart from a short spell during the war when she was evacuated to Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with her elder sister Pauline.

Doreen’s father, James, was born in August 1903 and joined the army as a boy soldier. By the age of 21 he was serving in the North West Frontier, India. During WW2 he served in the R.A.S.C. At the end of the war he made a career in the Post Office until the early 1960’s when he moved to Hastings on the South Coast. No longer able to do a job standing on his feet all day he became a lift operator in one of the many large department stores on the seafront.

In the late 1960’s he became a resident of the Star and Garter, Richmond, spending a few happy years there until he passed away in March 1971, suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.

During Doreen’s eventful life she spent time running a newsagents and toy shop in Cheam during which time her prize possession was a bubble car. After meeting ‘the love of her life’ Glyn she moved to Brighton, initially living in a caravan. She spent many years working at the Performing Rights Society which entailed a daily commute from Brighton to London. In 1980 she moved to husband Glyn’s home village of Senghenydd, South Wales, where they bought an old disused corner shop which they transformed into a beautiful family home.

Doreen is greatly missed by her family whose overriding memories of her are of her constant cheerfulness, positivity and ability to make the best of everything. She was well known for greeting everyone with a big smile and a ‘Hello Darling’ and you could always be sure that if there was any mischief going on Doreen would be at the centre of it!