Our mum Doreen popped into the world on Wednesday 30th of October 1929, the beloved daughter of William and Beatrice Maddever. She would not be blessed with the brother or sister she so desired, but she was surrounded by a loving family, particularly her cousins Frank, Jim, Teenie and twins Joyce and Jean, the children of her father’s older brother Jack, who lived a short stroll away.
It was with them and other youngsters in the village of Treburley that she grew up during the 30’s and 40’s, experiencing all the fun and freedom of living in the country, stories she, and they, often retold to us in later years.......being at the farm helping her cousins clean and tidy their bedrooms which involved throwing all the moveable furniture, rugs etc out of the bedroom window onto the front lawn below then mopping and dusting before returning the mass on the lawn to the respective rooms upstairs. She would visit and play at the Sportsmen’s Arms, the local pub, with her friend Mary and Mary’s brothers. They had many adventures together which included driving a pony and gig very fast around the local countryside. At one time she was forbidden to go out in the gig as the boys were deemed careless and fearless drivers, altogether too dangerous for William and Beatrice’s daughter. Doreen did not agree and accompanied her playmates on an adventure to Trekenner at break-neck speed up one hill then down the other. Of course the inevitable happened and the miscreants were tossed out of the gig, Doreen sustaining minor injuries to her lower limbs and dignity. But, worst of all, they had been seen. All was reported back to her father William. Punishment for her disobedience was swift and hard - no playtime with her friends and she would forego a planned treat to visit the cinema in Launceston to see The Wizard of Oz.
Doreen attended Lezant church each Sunday with her parents, eventually joining her father in the belfry to ring bells (he was captain of the bell ringing team). She also sang in the choir and during Sunday afternoon attended sunday school at the local Methodist chapel.
She left Trekenner school at 15. Her parents, wanting the best for their only child, arranged for her education to continue at the convent school in Launceston where she completed a two year secretarial course, cycling the five miles there and back with her friend Phyllis each day. This would be her life long career - to work as a shorthand typist. First with a firm of accountants in Launceston, where she made a life-long friend Barbara, eventually joining the civil service working for MAFF in Lowestoft for some 30 plus years. Here she was surrounded by a group of women in the typing pool who cheered and supported her along her sometimes difficult path in life, forming a bond which she treasured to the end of her life.
During her young life Mum was a joyful, fun loving young woman with lots of friends around her Teenie, Phyllis, Christian, Barbara, Mary, Amy they cycled everywhere to the cinema, church, dances. Trips to visit people associated with them for holidays by the sea or even to London for the trooping of the colour. Eventually she met and married our father Jack whose family farmed nearby, together having 4 children me Karen, my sisters Avril, Clodagh and brother Clive. Sadly the marriage was not a happy one and they divorced after 24 years.
However, throughout this time and until her recent death she was to be the power house of our family. She worked hard throughout her life to support and sustain us in every way she was able. She was a wonderful mentor and a fine example of parenthood and womanhood to the four of us and later to her six grandchildren. Mum also had a very well developed sense of humour, which I like to think we share with her, often laughing until she cried. She loved music and had learned to play the piano. As children she would play songs for us to sing along or dance to. She loved to draw and paint and was an accomplished copiest. Her knitting and crochet skills were second to none, at one stage in life working for Sirdar and Wendy wools brainstorming new knitting patterns to ensure their accuracy. Her attention to detail was to be envied. This characteristic was plied as she supplemented her income working alongside her scientific colleagues and visiting students typing their theses and papers, leading to a considerable knowledge of associated latin forms and fishy detail.
Our mother was also a great supporter of our endeavours in life attending performances, helping with pets and eventually being granny to our children having them to stay or baby sitting them, being interested in their development as children and young adults. Enjoying chatting with them about their exams or interests watching them swimming or participating in school sports or plays.
She has been our keenest and most ardent supporter throughout our lives, being there for us whenever we have needed her expert help or solace, knowing when to give space or offer a helping hand.
She has been the most dedicated and loving of mothers one could wish for.
Her loss is currently intangible, a gaping hole in life, a hole which will hopefully be refilled with all the wonderful memories we have stored inside each of us.
As some of you will know Doreen had been slowing down over the last year or so culminating in a hospital admission during February, after which she had a few days stay at Clodagh’s while we all prepared her home for her to live downstairs. She was a real home-body and did not wish to live elsewhere. We had the shared privilege of caring for her there until her final admission to hospital where she passed away after just 24 hours. We were able to be with here during this time holding her hand as she left this world just as she held ours when we came into it.
We ask you to join with us to salute the blessing she has been to us and many others, to acknowledge a life of loving, giving and dedication but above all being a wonderful human being, Doreen.