Gwen Dodds
Gwen Dodds
Gwen was born in … Her father … had been a prisoner of war in the first world war. During the second world war he carried out duties as part of the home guard.
Gwen met her husband Tommy at a dance and walked her home to …. Standing talking at the garden gate her father came out of the house and made a noise rattling the empty milk bottles he was putting on the door step.
Gwen worked at Bennett’s Grocers which was opposite the school.
When Gwen got married he got out his bowler hat and spent a long time dusting it in the honour of the occasion quietly letting tommy know exactly how he expected his daughter to be treated.
Gwen and Tommy were married on …. at …. The happy couple started married life in ….. and had two son’s John and Stephen. Tragedy struck when Stephen was knocked down and killed. Gwen and Tommy were distraught. Gwen was quite fragile and the doctor advised her to get out and about. Gwen went to work at Smart and Brown’s. Gwen enjoyed her time there but when the opportunity to take redundancy came around Gwen decided to take it. Gwen’s redundancy money made it possible for them to take their son John on a very special holiday to Florida.
After the pit closed in 1967 Gwen and Tommy took the opportunity to start a much needed Youth Club in the Miner’s Welfare Hall (by this time the West Cornforth Community Centre). Team Dodds was a force to be reckoned with.
To say the Youth Club was much needed is an understatement. It was one of the most popular regular events at the Community Centre. Posting Gwen’s picture on the Cornforth History Page led to a number of postings from past Youth Club members who remember her with gratitude, respect and much love.
‘Sadly missed and greatly loved. Loved the youth club. Nowhere else to go in my day. Total legends Gwen and Tommy. Amazing couple. We loved going to the youth club. She (and Mr D) are the reason I do the job I do today. Xx Many a happy memory of being thrown out of the youthie by gewn, she took no crap off us and all forgotten the following week, after you begged for forgiveness that is. We had the best of times at the youthie thanks to gwenie. Simply the best, The youth club with their record player with such 80s’ classics as Wham & A-ha lol! Me and a friend getting a special award off them at the Christmas Dance for working at the tuck shop. I remember the discos with Gwen doing them they lived in the same street.’
