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In all modesty
A brief biography of
Mrs Dorothy Wills-Doncaster
When one is as universally popular as I seem to have become over the years (and when one has been a specialist subject on Mastermind on no less than three separate occasions), it is easy to imagine that everyone knows everything about one. Yet that would be both immodest and presumptuous. So in this section I am delighted to provide any new Dorothy watchers (!) out there with a brief overview of my life and times.
Here is my ‘Who’s Who’ entry – reproduced by kind permission of A & C Black:
WILLS-DONCASTER, Dorothy Boadicea Clementine
Writer, Broadcaster, Opinion-former, Inspirationist.
Date of birth: 28th to 30th April 1946
Family: d of Sir Digby and Lady Wills; m Rupert (Guffy) Doncaster MC, 1963; two s (est)*, 2 d (est)*
Education: Queens Kindergarten, York; Chapter House Preparatory School, York; Queen Ethelburga’s College, York.
Career: Wife, Mother and Grandmother 1963-present; Chair of Winnet-under-Bottom Parish Council 1991-present; County Councillor (Indep Conservative - North Riding) 1991-2004; member IOC 1982-2002; President of the Society for the Proliferation of Obscure Traditions in Yorkshire 1981-present; founder - GUSSET (Guardians of Underwear that is Sensible, Secure, Elasticated and Trustworthy); Executive Chairwoman - FAIRIES (Freedom to Act against Inflatable Reindeer and Illuminated Electronic Santas); Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Sanctuary for Conjoined Geese; author of The Sousaphone and the liberated woman (1972), Serfdom in 20th century Yorkshire (1976); Elegant living for vulgar people (1986), The case for cannibalism (1989), Dinner menus for senior clergy (1991), Long term preservation of dead animals (1994), A short history of the Hebden Bridge snail rebellion (1998), 943 uses for an elderly parent (2003), Britishness and the gusset (2005), Indispensable Christmas Tips (2006); feature writer for Insemination Today 1972-present; panelist on BBC’s All the Answers 1982-present; regular contributor Radio Four Thought for the Day 2004-present, agony aunt for Horse and Hound 1993-2003, participant in Channel Four Wife Swap 2006.
Honours and awards: Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of York; Honorary Doctorate (Medieval Yorkshire History) University of Leeds; recipient of BBC Today Programme Distinguished Woman of Year award 1993; honoured in November 2000 on postage stamps by the nations of St. Vincent & Grenada as one of the inspirational women of the 20th Century; silver medallist women’s Greco-Roman wrestling world championships 1974; Supreme Lodge Mistress, Grand Chapter of British Women Freemasons; George Cross 1967; Order of the British Empire 2004;
Contact details: herladyship@dorothy-wills-doncaster.com
A selection of treasured family photographs pertinent to my biography can be viewed in a separate window. Please click here
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