Dorothy Shiels - 1952

Dorothy Cynthia Shiels nee Murrell

1952

Here is my cousin and godmother, Dorothy Cynthia Shiels nee Murrell (b.1923), the daughter of my mother's sister, Gladys Murrell nee Glover.

This photograph was taken in 1952 at the wedding of Dorothy's friends, Judy Aldridge and Ken Wells. The ceremony took place at historic St Philip’s Church in York Street, Sydney. Dorothy was Judy’s bridesmaid. 

The photograph has only recently been made available for me to scan, so it’s slightly out of chronological sequence here. Dorothy celebrated her 88th birthday last Wednesday, Nov 2. We met-up for lunch at the picturesque, riverside village of Brooklyn, located an hour north of Sydney, where we enjoyed a lovely seafood meal at the marina, overlooking the beautiful Hawkesbury River. 

Dorothy is amazing for her age, appearing a good ten-plus years younger than she actually is. She’s diminutive, sprightly and active, and lives independently of any assistance. She is actively involved in her local community on the Central Coast and traveled to our lunch via train, no sticks or walkers required! I hope I’ve got her good genes! After lunch, we walked along the pretty riverbank and sat on a parkbench overlooking a glorious vista of the Hawkesbury River’s vast, sweeping expanse. It was a lovely day, shared with a very special person.