A FORMER Aycliffe Angel who entered public life to continue her late husband’s legacy has died at the age of 90.

For more than three decades June Dowson, of Cockfield, was dedicated not only to her beloved family but also to the people and schools in her area.

Born in 1925, her first job at the age of 17 was as an ‘Aycliffe Angel’ working at the Aycliffe Royal Ordnance Factory Second World War munitions plant.

She later got a job behind the bar at Cockfield Workingmen's Club and would walk the three miles from and to her home in Copley each day.

In 1945 she applied for a job at Glaxo in Barnard Castle but was offered a shilling a week pay rise to stay at the club, and it was there she met future husband Harry who was the steward.

They married in 1958 and lived in the steward's house before moving to The Fallows, in the village, to raise sons Nigel and Stewart.

When her husband died in 1973 Mrs Dowson had to leave her job because a woman could not work in the club unaccompanied by a man in those days.

Mr Dowson had been a Durham County Councillor for the Staindrop ward, and MP elect for Bishop Auckland, so to continue his work she successfully stood for election to the council.

She held the seat until she retired at 70 and was also a Cockfield Parish Councillor for a similar period. Her roles on the county council often focused on education and children with special needs and she was delighted to open Evenwood Primary School.

She was a governor at Staindrop Comprehensive School for 35 years, including a spell as chairman, and served on the governing body at Cockfield Primary School from 1981 to around 2005, holding the position of vice chairman and chairman during that time.

Mrs Dowson lived in Meadowcroft before moving to the Manor House care home, in Barnard Castle, where she died on Monday, October 5, aged 90.

Son Nigel said: “Her family was her life, she had four grandchildren and six great grandchildren and seeing them was what made her really happy.

“She also had a real sense of community, she was a Labour stalwart and her community roles were very important to her.

“She was very very proud to be on the county council, particularly because she wanted to finish dad’s legacy.”

Mrs Dowson’s funeral details will be announced in The Northern Echo.