FORMER chairman and president of Wimborne Chamber of Trade, Eleanor Dunningham, has died aged 85.

During her time with the chamber Eleanor helped promote business in the town and ran several tea rooms.

Eleanor was an only child and when she was seven her father passed away, shortly after being injured in an air raid during the Second World War.

As a child growing up during the conflict, Eleanor moved with her mother to Nigg in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, staying with family. Throughout her life she recalled her time north of the border and revisited with husband Reg, driving to Scotland with their caravan.

After her return from Scotland, Eleanor and her mother spent a period of time living with her aunt Daisy, shaping the family oriented person she was later in her life .

After being demobilised from the army in May 1952, Reg met Eleanor in September at the Methodist Youth Club, and he persuaded her to go, as his partner, to a college dance on his 21st Birthday. From there they started ‘walking out’ and went on to spend 65 years together. Reg described Elanor as the “foundation and rock” who was always there for the family.

“Eleanor was always ready to support anything for the good of Wimborne including helping me when I was secretary of the Chamber of Trade," he said.

The couple married at Holy Trinity Church, Redhill on March 26, 1955, with close friends Thomas and Ivy Gwillym serving as best man and bridesmaid.

Together Eleanor and Reg, who worked as a sales representative for Brillo, moved to Dorset after he was offered a promotion. Initially they stayed in Corfe Mullen before moving into a new-build bungalow at “The Vineries”, Colehill in 1962. The couple had three children; Mark, Sarah and Matthew.

After 12 years in Colehill, Eleanor set up the first Colehill play group and joined the Young Wives’ Mother’s Union, developing an interest in their choir.

She was a founder member of “The Wimborne Swimming Club”.

The three children kept busy with various activities, Mark was a choir boy in the Minster for several years and Sarah enjoyed the swimming club and dancing. Matthew was a later addition to the family in 1971. He sadly passed away in 2004 from leukaemia. This had a huge impact on the family, leaving Eleanor with a lasting feeling of loss.

Eleanor had a passion for helping students, with young Germans and Swedes often staying with the family.

She became a prominent part of the Wimborne community in a number of ways.

In 1985, Eleanor fulfilled her dream of having her own Victorian tea room in Wimborne, calling it Riverside Mews.

She ran it until 1994, having to leave through ill-health.

She also joined Wimborne Chamber of Trade eventually serving as chairman and then later as president.

While serving as chairman in 1989 she visited Ochsenfurt, Germany as part of a Twinning event.

Eleanor also started the tea rooms in the Priest House Museum and the Model Town, helping the fundraising effort to save the Model Town.

She joined the Wimborne Minster Mother’s Union, which provided her with a great comfort and sense of belonging as a member. She went on to act as a Minster Guide alongside Christine Oliver and also loved Wimborne in Bloom.

At the turn of the millennium, Pat Hymers had aspirations of starting up Dreamboats on the River and once again Eleanor was on hand to help. The service continues to remain a popular attraction in Wimborne.

Eleanor Dunningham passed away on Wednesday, May 2 aged 85. She will be missed by husband Reg, children Mark, Sarah and late Matthew, grandchildren Ben, Lucy and Jo, her partner Matt, and great-granddaughter Melody Eleanor.