Dorothy Mary Price (Dr Dot) our Founder
28 March 1929 – 5 June 2019 R.I.P.
Dorothy founded the Nerja History Group in 2002 after a great deal of interest in her Talk about the Roman remains in Torrox. She was then assisted by Sue Harvey and Sandra & David Duncan. Trips in those days were by car share. Many of the members from those early days, are still part of the Group today. Sadly, due to ill health, Dr Dot had to relinquish her role in the NHG but was always greatly interested in our activities. And many of us remember her great love of the Phoenicians, if there was an opportunity to drop a Phoenician into the conversation, she would! She has left us a wonderful legacy.
The following information was kindly provided by Dr Paula Anthony, a long time friend of Dorothy and her Doctor for the last 5 years.
Dorothy was born in Nottingham at a time women did not expect to go to university. When she was young, people would tell her family that Dorothy was so clever she could be the Head Secretary at Boots ! Her Bachelor’s degree was in French and German from St Anne’s College at Oxford University.
Her first job after Oxford was teaching languages at St Christopher School in Hertfordshire. She used to enjoy telling me that St Christopher’s was an all vegetarian school!
Sometime later she joined the convent. I don’t think their motherhouse was based in Oxford although there was a convent there from her order. My daughter and I stayed there with her for a few nights in 2004.
The convent recognised Dorothy’s academic abilities and sent her for further education. I believe her Masters degree was in Psychology but I am not sure. It could have been in education…. I believe it was from UCL.
I am sure about her Doctorate – it was D. Phil. from UCL and was in Psychology. Now whether it was Clinical Psychology or Educational Psychology… I am not sure.
While still within the religious order Dorothy had a successful teaching career. I don’t know all the places she taught at but I do know she spent two years teaching at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC in the early 1970s. She told me a myriad of stories over the years – I should have taken note! I know at one point she was teaching Criminal Psychology – don’t ask me how that fitted in!
She also was teaching higher educational courses to prisoners.
Indeed she left the convent, went on a cruise and met her future husband, Tom Price. He had just retired from the Police Department. He was also an avid soccer player and all around sportsman.
Dorothy never had Alzheimers. It is a real pity that a GP suggested that to her when she brought up some memory problems she was experiencing. She did develop memory problems that were within the normal range for her age. Once she had her surgery and her medication was adjusted (she had been seriously over medicated with mind-dumbing meds), she enjoyed a good last few years.
I have to say that one highlight from these past years was her trip to Vienna. She had wanted to join an Oxford Alumni group on a trip there but recognised that it would be too much for her. So, in 2015, when I took a medical course at the University of Vienna Medical School, I organised Dorothy to come along with her carer. Each day I organised excursions for the two of them while I was at the course. In the evening I would come to pick her up and we would go to a concert or opera. She was absolutely amazing during that week. She spoke in German, English and Spanish. One of her highlights was visiting the Freud Museum (his old Vienna apartment… not to be confused with the Hampstead Freud Museum in his house there..). She described that specific visit in great detail to Dr Reyes, the Internal Medicine specialist that works with me and was also worked on Dorothy’s case. After her highly detailed description and analysis of her Viennese trip, we understood that, while Dorothy had those frustrating memory problems, she had never lost her ability, with the right stimulation, for analytical thinking.
For me, Dorothy is what put the “Great” in Great Britain.
Dorothy detailed her wishes to be cremated and united with her husband at the Nerja Cemetery.
Some memories of Dr Dot
David Goodland:
Will always be glad I bumped into you (Sue Harvey) and Dorothy at the start of that great venture, that continues to give so much pleasure, fun and friendship to so many.
She was eccentric, full of fun, knowledge, enthusiasm, encouragement, and kindness.
Sandra & David Duncan:
That’s a pity about Dorothy but she had such an amazing life and will be remembered by many people.
Maureen Hudson:
How very sad to hear that news. A Nerja icon really.
Tony Pulle:
She made a difference to many persons with an interest in the history and culture of Spain.
RIP
David Pritchard:
What a lovely obituary from Paula Anthony. We remember going with Dr Dot in 2003/2004 to the Roman remains in Torrox and she was a mine of information and so interesting.
Trust all is well with you,
David & Judith
Phyllis Lysaght:
Dear Christina,sad news indeed about a remarkable woman,I will always think of the Phoenicians when she is mentioned,they were so real to her,and might only have left the area a short time ago,perhaps she is with them now.
Paul Zann :
Hola, querida Christina!
Thank you for letting us know of Dorothy’s death. I am so sorry that you, and we, have lost Dorothy (ex-Mother Mary Norbet). As you know, Jan & I were with her when she first decided to form the NHG. We were driving her back from Almunecar where she had addressed a SAGA group about the Phoenicians (her favourite topic).
Thank you for letting us know of Dorothy’s death. I am so sorry that you, and we, have lost Dorothy (ex-Mother Mary Norbet). As you know, Jan & I were with her when she first decided to form the NHG. We were driving her back from Almunecar where she had addressed a SAGA group about the Phoenicians (her favourite topic).
Sue Harvey intends to organise a commemoration for Dorothy Price in the Autumn.