Tributes paid to talented stage performer and musician (From York Press)

Tributes paid to Dorothy Bennett-Pitkin, 86

8:10am Friday 15th February 2013 in News

TRIBUTES have been paid to an outgoing and talented dramatist and musician from York, who has died at the age of 86.

Dorothy Bennett-Pitkin was a member of a number of performing societies, including the New Earswick Amateur Dramatic Society, York Light Opera, Haxby Players and the Dickens Society.

Her daughter, Gay Berry, said: “She was a very, very keen dramatist. If there was a spotlight, she would be in it.

“She played piano and was very musical. She was an alto, and had quite a strong voice.

“With mum, you didn’t need to look for her, you would hear her.”

Dorothy Jones was born in Dewsbury, and moved to York as a child, living in Dodsworth Avenue before she moved to a flat in St Mary’s, then New Earswick in the early 1950s.

She married Fred Bennett-Pitkin in November 1946, after they had served together in the Army, where Mrs Bennett-Pitkin worked at Salem Chapel in West Yorkshire. The couple were together for 30 years, but parted amicably in the 1970s.

Gay said: “She was a very outgoing person, very optimistic and forward-thinking. She didn’t like to dwell in the past. She didn’t like moaning and groaning. She was of that generation who just put up with it and got on.”

Mrs Bennett-Pitkin was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 but, in her daughter’s words, “just kept going. She was amazing, really”.

Mrs Bennett-Pitkin was taken into hospital on February 1 after contracting pneumonia, and died surrounded by her family later that evening.

Her 87th birthday would have been the following day.

Mrs Bennett-Pitkin is survived by Gay, her son, David, and four grandchldren.

The family thanked all the staff at the hospital, including the chaplaincy, for their help and support.

A funeral will be held on Monday, March 4, at 12.20pm, at York Crematorium.