Dorothy Claridge

Dorothy Mary Claridge, 93, whose funeral will take place at St Mary's, Bradenstoke on September 9 at 2pm, had a most interesting life.

Dorothy (nee Neal), the only child of a BSA engineer, was born in Birmingham on Christmas Day 1922.

Dorothy studied at Waverley Grammar School and Birmingham University. She aimed to teach, but appendicitis and the Second World War led to her volunteering for the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and she was subsequently selected for top secret work at Bletchley Park, on a device to decrypt German codes.

After post-war work as a personal assistant in industry, Dorothy embarked on a nursing career at Guy's Hospital, qualified as an SRN and midwife. and later worked in Dudley.

In 1959 she was appointed senior sister at a hospital in the Bahamas, where she enjoyed a rewarding job and social life. She met her future husband, John Claridge, on the appropriately named Love Beach. He was from a family of original settlers and introduced Dorothy to his interest in horses.

John and Dorothy enjoyed a happy marriage, and had two children, Iain and Joanna. In 1961, they settled in Cornwall, where Dorothy became a district nurse and midwife.

Subsequently the family moved to Lyneham, and Dorothy became a WRVS Meals on Wheels volunteer. Iain and Joanna attended Wootton Bassett School (now the Academy) and Dorothy was a keen supporter of school activities and was an administrative assistant in the school library.

In 1982 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, shortly before the deaths of her husband and her mother.

Dorothy faced her illness and bereavement with indomitable spirit and pursued her interest in archaeology and history. After part-time studies at Chippenham College she gained O and A-levels in archaeology, with distinction. She visited Oberammergau, toured Central Europe, Scandinavia and Italy, revisited the Bahamas and went regularly to France with the Wiltshire Archaeology and Natural History Society.

Dorothy enjoyed classical music, and attended concerts at Malmesbury Abbey as a member of its Music Society, and of the Friends of Malmesbury Abbey. She also attended the Historical Society in Royal Wootton Bassett.

As her health declined, she appreciated her loving family, including her two granddaughters and friends.

Interment will take place at St Mary's Churchyard, Bradenstoke, her husband's last resting place. Memorial donations for the MS Society may be sent to Maslin Funeral Service, 118a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU.