DOROTHY Hutt was born in Cardiff on September 19, 1915. Her father John was a pharmacist and employed at the city’s Boots Pharmacy.

Following several moves associated with her father’s employment, the family came to Poole, via Southampton, settling in Churchfield Road.

Dorothy graduated from the then University College in Southampton with a BA degree in English and Mathematics and took up a teaching career.

She joked that one of the reasons for selecting mathematics was that she thought she would always find employment.

During the Second World War Dorothy taught in Southampton and eventually became the youngest headmistress at Barkers’ Butts School in Coventry.

Following her mother’s death, Dorothy returned to Poole to live in the family home with her father. She was headmistress of Oakmead School for Girls from 1958 until retiring in 1976.

For a number of years she regularly met for pub lunches with a group of former Oakmead pupils, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Dorothy loved living in Dorset and was a fount of knowledge on the county having many spent years driving around it. At the age of 91, much to her regret, she gave up her car.

During the last few years of her life Dorothy became increasingly forgetful and was eventually diagnosed as suffering from vascular dementia. She spent the last year of her life at Ashley Court care home in Poole where she passed away on July 11 at the age of 97.

Her illness was very distressing for her friends and relatives as she had been such an interesting, knowledgeable and pleasant person to converse with.

While she never married, and had no children of her own, Dorothy was always interested in young people, including her nephews and nieces; John, Margaret, Sue and Andrew. She also had a considerable number of godchildren.

Throughout her time in Poole Dorothy was a staunch supporter of St Mary’s Church. Being highly organised, as would be expected of a headmistress of that era, she sorted out her own funeral arrangements.

Her final wish was that, rather than floral tributes, mourners should make donations to St Mary’s.

Dorothy’s funeral service was held at St. Mary’s, followed by cremation, on July 24. Interment of her ashes in her parents’ grave will take place at a later date.