Popular Dundee shop owner Moira Clark, aged 71

Tributes have been paid to a popular Dundee shop owner who passed away earlier this month.

Moira Clark, 71, died peacefully at Ninewells Hospital on June 8.

Her partner, Raymond Murray, said she had spent many years living with COPD and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Moira owned and ran The Knitting Pin on Albert Street in Stobswell.

The couple met more than a quarter of a century ago when Raymond was Moira’s boss at Alliance cash and carry.

The couple never married and Raymond said that is something he regrets.

Moira moved from Alliance to a shop at Ninewells Hospital which sold balls of wool, before the couple eventually opened The Knitting Pin.

The store was first at 119 Albert Street where it remained for 12 years before a bigger unit became available at number 165.

Raymond said: “She was always very good at craft, she enjoyed knitting.

“I think she’s knitted half the shawls for half the people in Dundee. She enjoyed cross stitch and anything crafty.

“Moira also enjoyed cooking – she used to make clootie dumplings and enjoyed making tablet, anything sweet like cakes.

“She liked music, mainly country and western. If she was home here at night she’d be sitting doing her knitting watching the TV.

“She was a straightforward person – if something was wrong then she’d see about it. She was always friendly with everyone, enjoying a wee crack and a joke.

“She very much enjoyed interacting with her customers. She was a hands-on person.

“She built up a good business over the years. “Judging by a lot of the comments on Facebook, customers obviously enjoyed coming as well.

“We had a wee jar in the shop and if the kids behaved they got a lollipop – it was Moira’s bright idea.”

Moira is also survived by sons Stewart and John, daughters Pamela and Pauline and five grandchildren.

A funeral service yesterday was followed by burial at Birkhill Cemetery.

Moira Clark.