THE DORSET Echo's first female reporter who reported on the county's involvement in the D-Day landings has died at the age of 89.

Marjorie Piggot, née Nightingale, was born in Upwey and joined her local paper, then the Dorset Evening Echo, in the advertising department at the age of just 17.

She was swiftly promoted to become a junior 'hack' and went on to enjoy a memorable career on the paper.

One interviewee that she never forgot was British born Hollywood star Michael Rennie, known by many film buffs for his role in The Day The Earth Stood Still, amongst many other household names. During the Second World War, Marjorie reported for the Echo throughout the region's involvement with the D-Day landings and sadly lost her older brother Philip, who was killed whilst serving on HMS Norfolk in the Russian convoys.

On a day trip to the Isle of Wight with a girlfriend, Marjorie met an RAF serviceman who would become her husband.

Ron and Marjorie married at St Anne's church in Radipole, where she sang in the choir.

When Ron joined the Metropolitan Police the couple moved to London. Ron became a station sergeant in Woolwich.

They returned to Weymouth seven years later with two children.

Ron had intended to join his father-in-law Roland Nightingale in a business making cheese wires.

In fact, he and Marjorie established the Highway Driving School, one of Weymouth's first, using 'The Police Method of Instruction'.

Later they opened Weymouth's original DIY store in Great George Street. Piggott's DIY thrived for more than 25 years.

With the war interrupting her education, Marjorie - now a mother-of-three - joined the vanguard of the newly formed Open University in her 50s and graduated with a masters degree in English Literature.

With a great love of Shakespeare and particularly of Thomas Hardy and William Barnes, Marjorie established a school for overseas students, many from Europe and Japan.

Marjorie was active for many decades within the Rotary Inner Wheel and Round Table Ladies' Circle, supporting many community and charity events and causes. She also taught English at Weymouth College.

Her son Raymond, a retired teacher himself, recalled: "At the age of 89 one of Mum's greatest daily pleasures was to read The Echo.

"Even when the news was grim she relied upon the paper to keep her in close touch with the town and the region that she loved."

Dorset Echo deputy editor Samantha Harman said: "Marjorie led a very interesting life and looking back through her stories has been fascinating.

"It’s nice to know that even at 89, she was still reading and enjoying the Dorset Echo.

"Marjorie’s son Ray told us that she never thought of what she did as particularly special or pioneering. But women like Marjorie paved the way for others and her contribution, however small she may have deemed it, helped bring about the equality we have in the newsroom today.

See a Looking Back special celebrating Marjorie's work in Tuesday's Dorset Echo.