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.