Dolores Graham
1932 - 2001

Dolores (Del) Graham was an enthusiastic member of our Ward Club and was one of the first to reserve her place at functions. She lived in John Trundle Court for many years and was a most loyal member of the Barbican Association. Del was popular in Barbican and enjoyed a wide circle of other friends from years before.  

She had an interesting life history. Del was born in Romford, Essex on 31st October 1932. The family including her two older brothers moved north in 1935 to be near her father's family in Middlesborough. The three children resumed their schooling at Marton Grove which was a very modern school in those days. Almost as soon as she settled in Middlesborough Del began attending the Jean Hardy School of Dancing which was a famous establishment in the north of England. At age 13, a young teenager, she took to the boards as a dancer with a troupe and worked at this constantly whilst finishing her education at whatever schools were to hand whilst on her travels. 

Later she was a member of the famous Bluebell Girls and went on to form and manage her own troupe of cabaret dancers. Her fame was widespread and she numbered among her associates such well known names as the Morcambe & Wise duo together with Dick Emery, Val Doonican, Ronnie Hilton, Les Dawson, Bruce Forsythe, Josef Locke and many other names from the London stage. In later years Del Graham was the manageress of the London Rugby Club in Hallam Street and finally a property executive with Land Securities.

Del Graham was a well read lady and this love of learning was her abiding hobby together with swimming and walking. She loved puzzles, crosswords and a quiz.  
She retired early to live permanently in Spain with Stephen her partner and was very happy there for about sixteen years. She loved coming back on visits to her friends and especially to her family in Yorkshire.

Sadly, illness came upon her quite suddenly in 1995 in the form of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Several courses of treatment by the excellent Spanish medical teams kept the disease in regression for a few years until during the year 2000 it became obvious that the battle was ending.
She returned to Yorkshire, to her family, and died at St Leonard's Hospice in May 2001.
Del will be remembered with great fondness by her family and her many friends and former colleagues.(