Dorothy Rickard (29 Feb 1928 - 6 Jun 2021)

Dot was a much loved neighbour in our small close and for many years chairman of our Residents Society. Leigh Hill Close will never be the same without her. We have made a donation to St Lawrence Church which was such an important part of her life.

In loving memory of Dorothy and for all the loving & trusting Roddys of this world...

Fond childhood memories of Dot (mum's cousin) coming to stay with us on Hayling Island. I loved going out in the "Noddy" car and yesterday, upon seeing a photo of knitted Noddy, I was actually able to recall his wonderful smell - probably warm car interior, who knows? Just a familiar, comforting smell. It was a fleeting moment but one I will treasure. I hadn't seen Dot in recent years but she never forgot birthdays Christmas and has always been in my thoughts over the years. Rest in Peace Dot, love always xxx

From Jill Edmeade
Dot and I spent a lot of our teenage years together. She was 4 years older but put up with me! Unlike today’s teens we did lead very exciting lives but we were happy going to the cinema once sometimes twice a week. There were 8 or 9 cinemas so we had plenty of choice. Dot liked to go upstairs to the dress circle which was 2/6. My parents thought it was a waste of money and only gave me 1/9 for the stalls, Dot paid the difference! Most Sunday afternoons we would walk the dogs across the fields to Eastwood or go to Belfairs woods. Dot’s terrier was obedient but my mother’s Dachshund was not so we tied them together which meant wherever Sally with her long legs went Jane with her short ones had to follow! Cruel when you think about it but it stopped her from getting stuck down rabbit holes! We also had the excitement of the occasional dance on a Saturday in the Church hall. Dot also taught me to ride. For a couple of years we were both pupils at Westcliff High School for Girls, where because of the age gap she would pretend she didn’t know me! Goodbye dear cousin. R.I.P. XX.

Posting this on behalf of Joanna Hawley, who is one of the daughters of Jill Edmeade nee Rickard, one of Dots cousins.

Thank you, and Karen, for sending mum the link and details for Dot's funeral. Had no sound to start with, but once we got that sorted it was lovely to be part of the service.
Mum has always said I am like Dot, so I was not surprised that one of her favourite hymns was How Great Thou Art - one of mine; one of her favourite prayers is from St. Richard of Chichester - mine too! Despite, the craziness that is life with Covid, she is right, it is a wonderful world!

Dot was a big part of mum's life when she was growing up, having lost her mother at a young age and having no siblings. She cherished the times they spent together, a lot of her memories are time spent with Dot. One of my early memories is staying a night at your grandparents' house and sleeping in Dot's bed - magical!

Love to all the family at this sad time. Xxx

My great aunt Dot really knew how to spoil us. I got so excited whenever I got to spend a weekend with her, where I’d get to stay the night which was such a treat. I remember the poster in the room where I slept, that said “Always behave like a duck: calm and cool on the surface, but paddling like heck underneath” I’d stare at it for hours before drifting off. We’d go for long walks with Roddy and go out for dinner (at Wimpy in Leigh!) We’d go to the homemade bakers where I’d get to choose any delicious sweet treat I liked. I always seemed to choose the most revolting looking thing in the window and she’d gladly buy it for me, only for me to decide I don’t want it anymore… and she used to say “Well you chose it, so you eat it all!” But she was such a kind soul and knew how to laugh!

Dot is the most selfless woman I have ever known. She lived her whole life for others, and took immense joy in other people’s happiness. The last few years we’d made an effort to email each other regularly. She was so good at keeping in touch with all of us. Family was everything to her. I used to love reading her emails and I’d send her pictures and videos of the bunnies which she loved. Dot will always hold such a special place in my heart. Fiercely independent, but warm, funny and kind all at the same time. She gave everything to everyone, and expected nothing in return. I will miss her very much.

In memory of Dorothy who truly understood that many in our world do not have access to fresh water and pray for greater equality of opportunity.

Dorothy was a member of the Leigh Estuary u3a church visiting group. We enjoyed many visits to churches in Essex and beyond. Dorothy was lovely, so full of vitality and wisdom. I am so glad to have known her.

Rest in peace, dear Dorothy. We last met at Mum's 90th in June 2017 - I was so impressed you had made the effort to get to Rayleigh by yourself. Your family were friends of ours for the whole of your life - you were evacuated to Chapel en le Frith with Mum on 3rd June 1940 and you always remembered your foster family there with such warmth. You also loved that you were that little bit younger than Mum (if not 70 years younger by leap years!). I was looking forward to catching up with you on those memories as I prepare to move to Leigh now, but am so sad to have missed you. You will ever be special in our family memory - thank you so much for your warmth and kindness and for the memories you have left with us.

Dear Dot, an aunt by marriage to her nephew Steve, but a great support over many years and greatest Great Aunt to our two sons.
Loved & so missed xxx

My time at St Peters church as a child until teens was in Sunday School that
Dorothy lead with others, when Dorothy was always tall and so beautifully dressed
always with a bright scarf tied around her neck. After she went off to do her training in
Southwark in 1960 I also went to both St Peters and St Stephens and married in 1964.
On buying our first house in Eastwood we were delighted to find Dorothy a member of St Laurence and All Saints and our time of wonderful friendship of joy and such fun times.As life gets on it becomes such a treasure of memories in our heart forever, bless her, Thankyou for your love and care Dorothy,you taught us so much, David&Mary xxx

Dorothy worked as a social worker at the children’s charity, Coram, from the early 1950s till her retirement in 1988. Coram became an Adoption Agency in 1971 and Dorothy was a founder member of the adoption team, finding families to adopt older children and children with special needs. Dorothy was loved and respected by her colleagues and the adoptive families who knew her. She was child-centred, understanding the children’s complicated feelings and fears and skilled at helping their new parents to demonstrate the love and warmth the children needed. Dorothy was able to understand the anxieties of the adopters and to provide steady support. She also worked with the children, helping them to feel secure and to trust their new parents.
Dorothy was a team player, loved and respected by her colleagues and always willing to offer advice and support. She was much missed after her retirement and there are certainly many, many adopted adults and their families who have benefitted from her care and support, and whose lives were transformed by her care.

Well, ain't no way I'm going to get any cogent individual memories together as she was such a constant presence - I kind of assumed, even though I knew it was never going to be so, she was always going to be around, always pleased to see any or all of us. Even today I had a visit from great great nephew and niece Kabir and Thea and I caught myself thinking i should share some photos - but the camera stayed in the pocket.

Anyway off we go way back to yours and my Grandparents' house "Sharwood". I remember, at 5 maybe 6, standing by the enormous coal-fired AGA while she showed me the giant insulated lids that covered the hobs "You have to keep them down or it cools off" she explained. Which I remember being puzzled by.

Trips out in Noddy the Morris Traveller with cousins when we were children - the destinations are vague, there was at least a zoo and a circus and Southend lights, but I do remember singing endless verses of the "The Quartermaster's Store" featuring all of us.

Jump forward a few years to when our children were born and she would come and visit - again, always making the effort and always pleased to see us, then the combined Christmasses with the new generation of cousins with games and presents.

Later still when it was my turn to make the visiting run she would chat about her life - going to school with brother Jack, then wartime evacuation, social worker then Australia leading to a job at the Coram Foundation. And at our final chat in late May, between her getting out and buying us all brunch, talking about the problems the internet was bringing to the privacy of foster families. Bright as a button and always ready to help. Perhaps most importantly she was the keeper of the family records and source for the extended family news!

Dot was much beloved & treasured by me, very dear to my heart as my mother had passed away many years ago. She was an 'aunt' role-model for when me when own my nieces & nephews came along. Then, when my children were small she regularly visited & gave me a much needed break. She became a Grand Aunt & was still rolling down the slope in the Library Gardens in her 80's for my children's entertainment. Dot was always smiling with a ready joke, which was often a bit cheeky, and I never saw her sad. I think my first memory of meeting her was when she had just come back from Australia & she gave me a doll called Sheila & a koala, who I cuddled until it became bald. The last time I spoke to her was on the phone, concerned about some paperwork & I reassured her that I would see her the next day. She said with her usual stoicism that she was feeling a bit wobbly, strong to the end, I know she took a lot of comfort from her faith and was looking forward to seeing her beloved dog Roddy once more.

Rest in peace Dorothy, love Jacqui x

Dorothy & my mother Millie became good friends many years ago through the Leigh Floral club. Sadly Millie died in April this year, so hopefully they will be meeting up again. My fondest memories of Dorothy are when she trusted me enough to look after her beloved Roddy, what a fabulous little dog he was. I hadn’t seen Dorothy for a while, but she was never forgotten and never will be. Rest in peace Dorothy xx

Dear Dorothy- you were a wonderful colleague at Coram and a much loved friend. I miss you very much! Jeanne xx