TRIBUTES Great-grandmother Dorothy was dedicated to local church

A CARING great-grandmother has been remembered for more than 50 years of loyal service to her church.

The life of Dorothy Enid Hughes has been celebrated following her death on November 9 at the age of 91.

Born in Whitchurch, Dorothy attended junior school in Barry and Whitchurch Secondary Modern School.

A teenager during the Second World War, her family took in an evacuee named William from the West Midlands.

After returning home to England, William and Dorothy kept in touch and remained close friends.

Growing up during such a turbulent time, relatives of Dorothy recall her tales during the war – including an air raid which hit the top of her street.

Despite starting clerical work at the Evan Roberts department store in Cardiff, the mother of one also volunteered to become a member of the Woman’s Land Army.

Always eager to learn, Dorothy enjoyed her time on local farms learning to gather crops, make hay stooks and even milk cows.

From there she spent many years working in the clerical department for solicitors in the Pierhead building.

A life-long and devoted member to the Ararat Baptist Church in Whitchurch, Dorothy first met her husband Vernon in the church choir as a young girl.

The pair married in the snow on March 31, 1952.

Together the couple enjoyed dancing – a hobby which Dorothy continued even in her later years to keep fit.

Carrying on her family’s legacy, for Dorothy the Ararat remained at the heart of daily life.

As well as running the church’s Sunday school for more than 50 years, she also took on various roles within the group’s young wives and mother and toddler groups.

Not a pair to sit still, Dorothy and Vernon also helped found the Ararat luncheon club and would often be seen serving tea and coffee, peeling the vegetables and helping wash up afterwards.

In their later years the pair moved to Ty Enfys care home in Pentwyn where Dorothy developed a skill in arts and crafts.

Dorothy will be sorely missed by her daughter Joy as well as her three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Joy said: “My mother was very selfeffacing and quite quiet but very gentle, kind and caring.

“She loved the company of children and always wanted to help not only with her family but with the Ararat.”