The funeral of Dorothy Berry will take place at St Mark’s Church on Coldyhill Lane at 1 pm on Thursday November 6th followed by the Crematorium at 2 pm. A Funeral Reception will be held at The Park Manor Hotel, Northstead Manor Drive. Officiating at the Service will be Revd. Tim Jones – OS, Lisvane and College (78-86). For details see
https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/obituaries/138111
Following our post on Facebook of Dorothy’s passing, we have been heartened to read some of the comments about Dorothy and her impact on students. Do take some time to read them both on the OSA and Scarborough College sites.
We would like to reproduce below the appraisal of Dorothy from the 2005 Report of the Year which recognises her contribution to Lisvane and College for over 30 years and also a tribute from David Hempsall – former Head at the College 1985-95.
From Report of the Year 2005
The end of this academic year marked the retirement of Dorothy Berry after 31 continuous years in the service of Lisvane School and Scarborough College. In 1989, Dorothy transferred to the senior school from the ‘old’ Lisvane on Sandybed Lane, where she had been a pastoral deputy head. An RE specialist devoted to her subject, this versatile and remarkably generous woman also taught English up to GCSE, as well as junior History.
She gave fine, clear, measured assemblies; she ran popular and oversubscribed activities; she sorted meticulously the practical demands of ceremonies, services and presentations; she led her duty team firmly and fairly; she made herself available to those lucky enough to be in her tutor group – and to many more – half an hour before school, every day of every term. Always there with a smile to support students and staff and to celebrate their successes,
Dorothy shored us up in times of crisis and sadness with strength drawn from her faith. Quite simply, Dorothy Berry was the moral touchstone of the College community which she graced for so long. We wish her every happiness in retirement.
David Hempsall
I first encountered Dorothy in September 1985 on the first of my weekly visits to the preparatory school. My first impression was of someone a bit guarded: perhaps this was inevitable as who was I, the incoming whippersnapper, when compared with such a Lisvane fixture? I soon came to appreciate how well-regarded Dororthy was: valued by her teaching colleagues and loved by her pupil charges, all of whom knew she was a woman to be trusted.
So it was when she joined the College staff, as senior school colleagues will attest. She was an accomplished class-room practitioner who threw herself into the extra-curricular, especially music and drama for both of which she had a special affinity in contrast to her own rather self-effacing manner. She contributed enormously to the vital behind-the-scenes work without which productions and performances could not be staged.
Without question, what I shall remember – as will many others – was Dorothy’s singing! Never one to seek the soloist’s limelight, she was a choral regular: but, oh, what a regular! Her voice was singular and distinctive. No matter the size of the ensemble, Dorothy could be heard not because of volume but because her pitch cut through the sound produced by everyone else.
Over the years, I came to know Dorothy as a fine teacher and a principled but thoroughly unstuffy individual. She was liked and admired by all whose path she crossed. The community in Scarborough is the poorer for her passing.
