I got to know Dorothy some years ago when Helen traced and found me, as I am Helen's birth mother.  I was a bit nervous before we first met as I didn't know how she would take me. Both Dorothy and John were very welcoming and non judgemental, and I felt that they allowed me to become part of their family.  Dorothy showed her generous spirit when she once said to me "Helen is not mine or yours let's share her". I was very moved by that generosity.
Dorothy and John have been great parents and Helen is a lovely person, and my family have warmly welcomed her into our family as Dorothy and John welcomed me into theirs.
I have met up with Dorothy and John over the last years visiting Helen,and have very much enjoyed our teas and coffees together with Dorothy's humour and twinkle in her eye -not to mention those delicious cakes she baked.
I am so sorry I cannot be there at the remembrance service, like so many others, but I will bake a Carlisle cake (which Dorothy gave me the recipe for) and have tea and cake in memory of Dorothy and sending love to Helen and John.
with much love from Kath