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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.
(SAC)
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