Dor was at ‘heart of Claverdon life’

Doreen Elise Bromilow, known as Dor to her friends, died after suffering a long illness at the Bernard Sunley nursing home in Woking on December 20th, just a few days after her 93rd birthday.

The well-liked and respected resident had spent over five decades at the centre of Claverdon life with fundraising and club activities.

She lived in Warwickshire until the age of 91 when she moved to moved to Surrey to be close to her daughter, Alison and younger son Nigel.

Paying tribute to a friend, villagers have said that the grandmother stood at the heart of the community as an energetic fundraiser for the tennis club, the boys club, the bridge club, and latterly for Claverdon Rugby Football Club where both her sons, and two grandsons Johnny and Geoffrey, played.

Dor, who lived at Woodside, was also described as a “highly accomplished artist” who painted for the village art club.

Her regular Bluebell Sundays raised thousands of pounds for causes including Myton Hospice and Warwickshire Conservation Trust.

Born Doreen Warder in December 1922, Dor was the middle daughter of architect Richard Warder from Hopwood in Worcestershire. She had two sisters, Wynn and Joy, and a brother John.

She went on to hold a career as a Wren during the Second World War and married Francis Bromilow -a Midland architect who had been an Army officer - in 1949.

The couple moved to Woodside in the village that year where they stayed and brought up three children, Clive, Alison and Nigel.

Dor was ably assisted during the years when her children were growing up by Joan Hoyland who became a great friend and allowed the mother to launch a business career as a Vanda Beauty Counsellor and launch Charlie’s Angels, managing a team of domestic cleaners.

Dor also ran a bed and breakfast at her home before early signs of her debilitating illness showed and she moved to a house in Park Drive.

She is survived by Clive, Alison and Nigel, her grandchildren - Jonathan, Geoffrey, Caitlin, Richard, Oliver, James, Edward and Olivia - and great-grandson Jack.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Claverdon, at 2pm on January 6.