Tributes paid to writer who found success in later life (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Tributes paid to writer who found success in later life

1:50pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News

A MOTHER of two who successfully took up writing in later life has died at the age of 76 after a long illness.

Doreen Dean, from Darlington, embarked on a career as a writer after winning national recognition with her first ever poem, Un, when she was 51, winning the Gizza Poem competition.

Following her success Mrs Dean’s work appeared in a number of poetry anthologies and she began to teach creative writing in schools around the region.

She also contributed to a local history series, Darlington As It Was, with her husband, Stan, who died at the age of 79 in 2011.

Mrs Dean’s son David paid tribute to her and said: “She was an amazing woman who was an inspiration in many ways to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed.”

Mrs Dean also leaves another son, John, and his wife Francis, David’s wife, Carol, and two grandchildren, Michael and Laura.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday (March 6) at 11.45am at Darlington Crematorium.