A CHARITY volunteer and wife of the former High Sheriff of Cleveland has died at the age of 89.

Dorothy Catterall was born in Darlington on Wednesday, February 13, the elder of two daughters to George - known by his middle name Arnold - and Marjorie Gary.

Her father was a telecommunications engineer who set up Morse code installations in post offices and her mother was a member of the Slater family who were chemists in Tubwell Row.

The outbreak of Second World War saw her family issued with gas masks, her father acquired an Anderson shelter and they spent days digging up their back garden in Swaledale Avenue in Mowden to install it.

In June 1940 one mistaken news report claimed that German paratroopers had landed at Scarborough and were on their way to secure Darlington railway station. At that time Dorothy’s father, Arnold, was part of a team keeping fire watch from the clock tower of the station. On hearing of the supposed invasion the Home Guard issued him with a revolver and a large flask of pepper with the instructions that when the German Stormtroopers charged up the stairs, he was to exhaust all his bullets and then throw the pepper over them.

Dorothy met her future husband James Catterall at the Young Conservatives and the couple were married at St Augustine’s Church in February 1952. James, new to the town, worked for property firm Sanderson Townend and Gilbert. They had four boys within the first six years of marriage and the couple lived in Church Lane, Middlesbrough, Potto, Great Smeaton and finally Croft-on-Tees.

The Croft house became known as Kings Cross Station for the amount of impromptu parties thrown there.

Dorothy made time for a huge amount of charitable work including serving with the WRVS and was on the committees of St Nazareth’s orphanage in Middlesbrough, Botton Hall, Cheshire Homes and a librarian at St Luke’s Hospital.

In 1987 when James was appointed High Sheriff of Cleveland she helped him entertain visiting dignitaries including law lords, cabinet ministers and members of the Royal Family.

A CHARITY volunteer and wife of the former High Sheriff of Cleveland has died at the age of 89.

Dorothy Catterall was born in Darlington on Wednesday, February 13, the elder of two daughters to George - known by his middle name Arnold - and Marjorie Gary.

Her father was a telecommunications engineer who set up Morse code installations in post offices and her mother was a member of the Slater family who were chemists in Tubwell Row.

The outbreak of Second World War saw her family issued with gas masks, her father acquired an Anderson shelter and they spent days digging up their back garden in Swaledale Avenue in Mowden to install it.

In June 1940 one mistaken news report claimed that German paratroopers had landed at Scarborough and were on their way to secure Darlington railway station. At that time Dorothy’s father, Arnold, was part of a team keeping fire watch from the clock tower of the station. On hearing of the supposed invasion the Home Guard issued him with a revolver and a large flask of pepper with the instructions that when the German Stormtroopers charged up the stairs, he was to exhaust all his bullets and then throw the pepper over them.

Dorothy met her future husband James Catterall at the Young Conservatives and the couple were married at St Augustine’s Church in February 1952. James, new to the town, worked for property firm Sanderson Townend and Gilbert. They had four boys within the first six years of marriage and the couple lived in Church Lane, Middlesbrough, Potto, Great Smeaton and finally Croft-on-Tees.

The Croft house became known as Kings Cross Station for the amount of impromptu parties thrown there.

Dorothy made time for a huge amount of charitable work including serving with the WRVS and was on the committees of St Nazareth’s orphanage in Middlesbrough, Botton Hall, Cheshire Homes and a librarian at St Luke’s Hospital.

In 1987 when James was appointed High Sheriff of Cleveland she helped him entertain visiting dignitaries including law lords, cabinet ministers and members of the Royal Family. They attended garden parties at Buckingham Palace and dined on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

In 1988 when James died unexpectedly, Dorothy never complained but was always there to help with the grandchildren while serving also as a guide at the Georgian Theatre at Richmond and at Pepper Arden. She was a keen fell walker all her life and played bridge to county standard, latterly at Hurworth Grange.

Her son Simon Catterall said: “She had many friends, was an excellent cook, a superb hostess, and right to the end of her days at Middleton Hall retirement home, always dressed impeccably and with style.”

She is survived by her sons Tim, Jeremy, Simon and Robin and grandchildren James, Charlie, Henry, Daisy, Karl and Melanie and great grandchildren Amelie and Chloe.

Dorothy’s elder granddaughter Louise died tragically aged just 21 in 2006.

In 1988 when James died unexpectedly, Dorothy never complained but was always there to help with the grandchildren while serving also as a guide at the Georgian Theatre at Richmond and at Pepper Arden. She was a keen fell walker all her life and played bridge to county standard, latterly at Hurworth Grange.

Her son Simon Catterall said: “She had many friends, was an excellent cook, a superb hostess, and right to the end of her days at Middleton Hall retirement home, always dressed impeccably and with style.”

She is survived by her sons Tim, Jeremy, Simon and Robin and grandchildren James, Charlie, Henry, Daisy, Karl and Melanie and great grandchildren Amelie and Chloe.

Dorothy’s elder granddaughter Louise died tragically aged just 21 in 2006.