Charles Dore

We record with sadness the death of Charles Dore on 7^th January, one of Helmdon’s oldest inhabitants. Mr Dore – Charles or ‘Larky’ to his friends – moved to Helmdon from Sulgrave in 1962, shortly before his retirement with Wooton Bros. Builders.

A craftsman of the old school he was justly proud of the fact that he had “left his mark “ in the form of fine stone work in and buildings in Helmdon and for many miles around.

In his youth Mr Dore was a keen and active sportsman, and even in later life continued to follow sport of all kinds as a knowledgeable spectator. He always enjoyed a flutter on the horses, and even on the day he died, he was interested to know the winners of the day’s races!

Above all, Mr Dore was a family man, loved and respected as a father, grandfather and great grandfather. His was a simple philosophy of life, and everyone who met him could not fail to appreciate his straightforward and open manner, not to mention a keen sense of humour. The village will be the poorer for the loss of one of its real characters.

From Talkabout Spring 1996