In Loving Memory
GLADYS MABEL DODDIMEADE
25 May 1921 - 19 December 2005
Gladys Mabel Lawrence was born on 25 May 1921 in Hel Houghton, Norfolk. She was one of two sisters; Ellie is her older surviving sister.
Gladys was in the army as a cook, where she met Bill Doddimeade in Colchester. They married and moved to Spurstow Road (in what is now Malpas Road), Hackney, London in 1947. From there, she went to the old Hackney Central Hall, opposite the town hall. Paul, their son arrived in 1954.
Gladys, Bill and Paul were the first tenants in 1962, in the new Nye Bevan Estate, Clapton Park, and have remained the only original tenanats still living in the flats.
Paul came home from school saying they were looking for someone to work in the kitchens. Gladys applied and got the job at Amhurst School. She started as a kitchen hand and left as head cook, managing the kitchens. Before she retired, she was moved to run the kitchens at Stormont School on Downs Park.
Her outside hobbies included crosswords. She did five crosswords a day. She also read and enjoyed kinitting. Her mind was always active.
Gladys was wholly committed to her Methodist church at Mare Street, Hackney. She had been a Sunday school teacher, helper at the bazaars and supported the Sisterhood. At the time of her death, she was a serving church steward, always counting the collection and paying it into the bank every week. She was meticulous with figures and could always be relied upon to get the money right. She was a pastoral visitor, regular member of the Church Council and Circuit Meeting. If anything was happening in church, she was there. She had read a lesson at her final service in the church on 4 December. She was a quiet, gentle member of the church but who got on with everyone and was well loved by members of this diverse church and circuit.
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