It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of Cherry Dodd on Sunday 22nd of June. Cherry had become increasingly restricted in her breathing over the last few weeks and very bravely told us in Chapel at the end of May that she had been told she had lung cancer. Despite her upbeat and cheerful attitude she deteriorated all too quickly, was hospitalised and then transferred to Alveston Leys Care Home where she died peacefully on Sunday.
Details of funeral arrangements are still being finalised but there will be a service at the Crematorium, for family members only please, followed by a service in the Unitarian Chapel. We will publicise the date soon.
Cherry had been conscripted from outside to be Treasurer of the Chapel but soon found that she gained a great deal from the services and she became the most loyal member of the congregation. In the 1980s when the group was very small she contributed endless enthusiasm and energy to the fund-raising that allowed Malcolm Sadler’s vision of the Chapel to progress through an extensive reconfiguration of the interior. We today benefit enormously from their tireless work which transformed the old Eighteenth Century Chapel with box pews into a vibrant multi-use space that lends itself to so many activities. More than 40 years after she started Cherry was still absolutely at the centre of the Chapel community and its management, still working without complaint as our vigilant Treasurer. It will be hard to replace such a dedicated and knowledgeable person. She was much loved and respected, and we will miss her enormously.