Dorothy Anne Foster (17 Feb 1941 - 22 Nov 2016)

In loving memory of Dorothy Anne Foster who sadly passed away on 22nd November 2016

Dorothy was born on February 17th 1941 to Sid and Alice Winfield. The eldest child, she was a war baby with her dad being away for the first couple of years. Dorothy was big sister to two brothers, David and Roger.

She went to Hailey Road Primary School in Witney and won a scholarship to the local grammar school where she developed lifelong friendships and bonds. As a child she always loved the countryside and reading books, and remained a "bookworm" throughout her life.

As a young woman Dorothy was very sporty, an excellent swimmer she spent many happy hours swimming in "dogs hole" in the river Windrush and helping out at the bathing house on the banks of the river Windrush, a short walk across the meadows from the family home. She also enjoyed playing in the ruins at Minster Lovell and riding her bike around the Cotswolds, she also played tennis for the county.

Dorothy shared her Dad’s love of poetry and art and her Mum’s love of needlework; which in later years she became very skilled in, painting pictures of both local and Cornish scenes which held happy memories for her. She also joined Coningsby sewing circle where she made many close friends.

Her first job after leaving school was as a bank cashier for Lloyds bank in Witney where she gained qualifications in accounting.

Dorothy met her husband to be, Eddie at a police ball and they eventually married in December of 1962. They spent a short time in Luton where she gave birth to her eldest child, Stephen in 1962. Soon afterwards Dorothy and Eddie moved back to Witney, setting up home in Crawley Road, next door to her Mum and Dad, in fact "Living next door to Alice" became a bit of a family anthem! It was here in 1965 that Dorothy gave birth to her daughter, Frances.

A very modern mum in the 60s, Dorothy chose to continue to work and carve out a career for herself, initially 'doing the books' for various local businesses in the Witney area while setting up her own business 'Witney Staff Bureau.' This later grew into 'Witney Office Machines and Staff Bureau' based in West End, Witney. Among the claims to fame we recall were her hosting ‘the world’s largest pocket calculator’ and having Pam, Ayers as a client!

Dorothy left the business to train as a Registered Dental Surgery Assistant and worked with the Community Dentist visiting schools. As a busy working mum she loved to cook and entertain. She was an excellent 'cordon bleu' cook leaving the galloping gourmet standing in his stall! She was famous with Stephen and Frances' friends for her American Hamburgers and bountiful pickled onions in huge sweet jars. The house often smelt of pickling for days after, and all of Crawley Road knew when the pickling was being done!

Alongside work, Dorothy also found time for helping to run the Bathing House on the river Windrush, attending the monthly Labour Party dances with family and friends and numerous camping holidays in the Forest of Dean, Cornwall and Scotland - where she ended up having to wash in a local Loch after helping push the car out of a field and getting sprayed with good scottish mud from spinning tyres! She was active in the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and constantly amazed everyone with her organisational skills and ability to juggle so many projects at one time.

In 1978 a momentous decision was made to move the family to Lincolnshire and 'do up' an old farm house in Mareham Le Fen. The whole family spent the next 2 years rebuilding the house and for a short time it was run as a guest house. Dorothy then once again returned to her role as an RDSA in the community and was later based in Sleaford. She also acquired her own car, a 3 wheeler Robin Reliant which she named Sweet Sue, in which she was often seen dashing through the countryside!!

In the 80s Dorothy started training as a counsellor with relate and she worked for them for many years after qualifying. She also went on to train as a Psychosexual Counsellor. This amused the children as they would often find "Strange implements" in the house. Stephen would often be asked to visit Boots to aquire a variety of items which she was too embarrassed to ask for herself! She lectured on the Counselling Certificate course for Nottingham University and also ran training courses in the Boston area, eventually setting up her own private practice and working with local GP surgeries.

Divorced from Eddie in 1984 she came through with the support and love of her children and many friends and a continued focus on her work and career. While lecturing on a local course in Boston College she met her late husband and soul mate Cyril. Their relationship soon blossomed from friendship into a loving and very happy marriage. Cyril and Dorothy were married in 1992 here in St Helen’s Church in Mareham le Fen.

Her world was transformed and filled with joy - as well as noise - at the birth of her first grandchild, Christopher, from Stephen and Wendy, in 1989. She absolutely adored being a 'Granny' and in 1993, she was doubly blessed when Stephen and Wendy had a daughter, Joanna. She idolised them both and couldn't get enough of them, becoming a doting grandmother. Although Dorothy only had 2 children herself, she felt blessed to have many other 'children' in her life. During the summer holidays she gained 2 more children, her niece and nephew Karen & Peter from Glasgow who came to stay, she also felt proud to be godmother to Jade, Peter and Pippa. Christopher and Joanna used to spend a week with Granny and Cyril every summer and have very fond memories of being taken to many places around the country, they particularly loved going to Legoland and jumping among the fountains getting soaking wet! They also used to take them pond dipping and trying to teach them how to do water colour paintings – properly!

Being with Cyril, Dorothy's life changed. Travel became an integral part of their marriage often flying off to the USA to visit Cyril's family, visiting Europe and Scotland and generally exploring the U.K. Dorothy had never imagined that she would enjoy world travel as much as she did, which was all the more special with the love of her life, Cyril. She also felt immensly priveleged that Cyril’s family welcomed her into their lives and they spent many happy hours together.

Throughout her life she developed a deep attachment to Cornwall and Cyril and Dorothy had hoped to move there but found it difficult to leave their friends and family in Lincolnshire. Also, she had her mum who lived only 6 doors down the road, still nearly next door to Alice, who was becoming increasingly more fragile. So, they bought their holiday home in Penzance and would often disappear for weeks at a time, building strong bonds and friendships in the south of the country.

Dorothy and Cyril loved village life, and was known as a 'Lady that lunched' with her many friends. They also became increasingly involved with St Helen's Church, with Cyril being the Church Warden and Dorothy assisting with the Church's Pastoral Care team.

Dorothy was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease in 2011 and Cyril became her carer. Sadly, Cyril lost a short battle with cancer and passed away in November 2013. Dorothy found it incredibly difficult to cope at home on her own without the support and care of her beloved Cyril and soon moved in to a nursing home. Organised to the end, Dorothy had already chosen the nursing home she wanted to be in.

The last 3 years of her life have been a terrible struggle for her and her family, but we want her to be remembered as the potent, strong, capable, intelligent, dignified and loving woman that she has been to so many people. She forged strong connections and deep friendships with so many throughout her life and touched hearts and lives with her generosity and kindness.

Right up until her final months she was still to be found whistling and dancing to music and we take some comfort believing that Dorothy has been joined once more with her beloved soul mate Cyril who she missed so terribly after his death.

No words can express how much she will be missed by her family but they will always carry her in their hearts.