Camborne Parish Church

PERSONALLY SPEAKING – Dorothy and Gladwyn Fisher

DOROTHY

I was born in Islington, London, and went to Laycock School, Highbury until I was 14, then went to Commercial College. I was 11 years old when war broke out, my sister and I were not evacuated so lived through the bombings, incendiaries, land mines, V1s and V2s. We at first used to shelter in the local underground at night, but soon gave that up and stayed home I was glad as I had a little dog who was not allowed in the underground ,

Gladwyn and I met in 1943, when Gladwyn was billeted near High­bury Fields to be a telegraphist in the Navy. All the sailors used to sit on the steps of the houses in the evenings where I used to walk my dog and they used to pat Tippy my dog, which led to Gladwyn and I talking (I was 15 he 18) after his Training he left London and we wrote to each other for 4 years every day. Though I did see Gladwyn on short leaves when my parents agreed to let me go with him to his home in Cornwall – though we didn’t know where Cornwall was!

I was 18 when Gladwyn was demobbed in 1946, and as the distance between us was so great it seemed the sensible thing to get married – which we have been for 62 years this year. I was a shorthand typist in London but gave up work when we settled here in Camborne where Gladwyn went back to Holmans. David our son was born in 1949, and when he was three years old Miss Quick, then in charge of the Sunday School, offered to take him to the babies class, and he was confirmed and in the B.B. later, having been baptised at Gwithian. Thus began my lovely long family membership of Camborne Church, where I later became a Sunday School teacher, and leader in the B.B, for 15 years.

I have been associated with the RSPCA for 46 years and ran the Junior Animal Defenders for 29 but that is another story. I have always firmly believed God’s purpose for me has been to care and protect his animals and all creation. And I am passionate about that.

Our son and his lovely wife live at Penryn, they are so good to us. They didn’t have a family themselves I consider I’ve done VERY WELL with the Lord’s help which I’ve always felt close to me.

GLADWYN.

I was born and spent my childhood at Gwithian, attending Connor Downs school and then at Basset Road school, attending the Sunday School at Gwithian Church, being confirmed at Phillack church when 11 years old.

At 15 years I left school to begin work at Holmans in the Black­smiths Dept., and spent 41 years there, including service in the Royal Navy during the last war. At 18 I was called up to do my training at Skegness and then to London to train as a Telegraphist, it was while in London I met Dorothy and we spent time there together. After eventually completing training I went over to France just after D-Day. On returning to England I joined a fleet of LCGs (Landing Craft Guns) with the aim of sailing to the Far East but the day we were due to sail the Americans dropped the H-Bomb and we never went. Some time after I was demobbed and returned to work at Holmans.

I still wrote to Dorothy every day, then eventually found a house in Camborne and we were married at St. Mary’s Church in Islington. During our married life I have spent my leisure time on my allotment and doing a lot of DIY, as well as being Secretary of the Allotment Association and now the President. I also enjoy supporting the local rugby and cricket teams. Also a large part of my life is attending Camborne Parish Church and carrying out the duty of sidesperson.

Dorothy & Gladwyn Fisher

Ed: Dorothy is probably too modest to include the fact that in 1994 she was nominated to receive Maundy Money from the Queen. And in 2003 she attended a reception at Buckingham Palace for “Pioneers of the Life of the Nation” where she again met the Queen. They must be nearly on first name terms by now!