A MUCH-RESPECTED Claverdon resident who was at the heart of village life for more than 50 years has died.
Doreen Elise Bromilow passed away at a Surrey nursing home following a debilitating illness just a few days after her 93rd birthday.
Born Doreen Warder in December 1922, she was the middle daughter of architect Richard Warder from Hopwood in Worcestershire.
Doreen had a distinguished career as a Wren during the Second World War and married Francis Bromilow in 1949 – a Midland architect who had been an Army officer.
The couple moved to Woodside in the village that year where they stayed and brought up three children, Clive, Alison and Nigel.
Known as ‘Dor’ to many friends, she spent five decades at the centre of Claverdon life as an energetic fund-raiser for a host of groups including: the Tennis Club, the Boys Club, the Bridge Club, the Women’s Institute, the Monday Club, and for Claverdon Rugby Football Club.
She was a highly accomplished artist who painted at the village art club and her Bluebell Sundays raised thousands of pounds for local causes including Myton Hospice and Warwickshire Conservation Trust over the years.
The pensioner was ably assisted as her children were growing up by Joan Hoyland – also from Claverdon – and the pair became fast friends.
This enabled Doreen to involve herself in a successful business career and she was a Vanda Beauty Counsellor for many years before rising to regional distributor.
She also started Charlie’s Angels – managing a team of domestic cleaners – and even found time to run a Bed & Breakfast business at Woodside.
Early signs of her debilitating illness had begun to manifest themselves in recent years so she downsized to a smaller house in Park Drive where she enjoyed a less hectic life.
Then two years ago Dor moved from Warwickshire to Surrey so she could be closer to her daughter Alison and younger son Nigel.
She is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren Jonathan, Geoffrey, Caitlin, Richard, Oliver, James, Edward and Olivia and a recent great grandson Jack.
A memorial service will be held at the church of St Michael and All Angels in Claverdon at 2pm on Wednesday (January 6).
