We regret that it has taken so long to say a few words
about Merle (Margaret) Dyer, of Boyden Close, who died this Spring.
This oversight was drawn to our attention when Cheryl Penhaligan,
a close friend of Merle's, announced that she was going to do a sponsored
parachute jump in aid of St Nicholas' Hospice, Bury St Edmunds, where
Merle was treated for a malignant tumour prior to her death. Cheryl
kept her promise to her dying friend and completed the jump (no mean
achievement at 55) to raise over £1000.
Merle originally came from the Clydesdale region of Scotland and with
her husband Bill came to Suffolk 40 years ago, most of that time living
in Wickhambrook. Sadly, Bill, former Captain of the Greyhound Quiz
Team, died just 10 years before Merle. Overcoming her loss, Merle
eventually regained her bright and sunny personality, which she retained
in public right up to the end. She was busy supporting several organisations
in the village; particularly those that raised funds for the needy,
and was a member of the WI and Greyhound Ladies Darts Team.
Many would have found it an embarrassment to have to walk around with
a metal frame around the chest, neck and head. Merle was the first
to find it a source of humour. "Yes", she would say, "You
can definitely pick up Channel Five on this." Or to innocent
young children she would say: "That's to hang my tea towel on
when I am doing the washing up." All this, with inner pain and
never a public word of complaint.
Our sympathies have been expressed to her daughter Claire, living
in Wickhambrook, and her son Mark in Bury St Edmunds.
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