Helen Dickson (24 Oct 1929 - 9 Jun 2021)

In loving memory of Helen Dickson who sadly passed away on 9th June 2021. Helen was born on the eve of the Wall St Crash and was a child during the Second World War, being evacuated to Kilmarnock. She returned to her beloved parents and wee brother Jim and completed her education at Glasgow University, then going on to train to be a teacher. She started with primary age, but soon became an English teacher at secondary level. Latterly she developed an interest in Learning Support and retired from her Principal Teacher role in 1992.

She met Allan, her beloved husband who was also a teacher and after a wobbly start (she turned down his first proposal!) they married in 1965 and went on to have two children Anne and Robin. Allan sadly died in 1977 and Helen never remarried, but with characteristic grit and quiet positivity she returned to teaching and made a happy and loving home for herself and her family.

Helen was delighted when her son Robert met and married Rebecca, and doted on her two grandsons Alexander and Matthew who benefited from her love of museums, cooking and books, learning at a very early age to find granny’s glasses so she could read them a story.

She was a quietly friendly, fiercely intelligent, happy and witty woman who made lifelong friends wherever she worked and went. Although she was a little shy she always put people at ease, and was a loyal and supportive friend to many who will miss her very much.

She had a wide range of interests, from walking with her beloved (and spoilt) Cavalier King Charles spaniels, golfing in Haggs Castle and in St Andrews where she had a holiday home for many years, RSNO concerts, was a Friend of Scottish Opera, the 3Ls Learning in Later Life at Strathclyde University, genealogy, book clubs, the Art Club, a Friend of Glasgow Museums & Art Galleries, travelling in the UK….. she always joked she didn’t know how she fitted work in.

She loved to socialise and entertain, her home always welcoming and comfortable. She loved art, and collected paintings and objects as well as developing her skills with computers way back when this was a niche interest, she always embraced technology, firstly to see how it could help children with learning needs, but also to keep in touch with family and friends across the globe.

Latterly she lived a quieter life but continued to be fiercely independent, driving her Audi and meeting friends for coffee. She very bravely and with her usual determination tackled malignant melanoma on several occasions, and faced life with a positive will to live every minute well.

Sadly she declined in health late last year, and had been in hospital for a while. She died peacefully in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and will be very much missed by her family and friends.