WE were overwhelmed by the response after we asked for memories of Nurse Allgood, sister of popular Holy Trinity School Weymouth teacher Phyllis Ashton.

Looking Back wanted to know the first name of Nurse Allgood and our helpful readers weren’t shy in coming forward to tell us it was Dorothy and she was affectionately known as ‘Dolly’.

Her sister, teacher Phyllis, lived until 100, passing away only in August of this year, but Dorothy died in 1977, aged 79.

She was a health visitor and was fondly known as the ‘nit nurse’ travelling around in her white Morris Minor.

Margaret Wellspring, nee Osborne, of Crossways, remembers her well.

She said: “Nurse Allgood was an unforgettable personality in my childhood years. I can still feel her fingers in my hair today.

“I first encountered her in 1955 when I attended St Osmund’s School at Osmington.

“I remember her pulling up in her white Morris Minor, a little woman with snow white hair and glasses and we all knew we were in for a rough time.

“In my last year at Osmington, because I was the only pupil in the school that lived on a farm, Nurse Allgood ‘kindly’ recommended that I should have a course of tetanus injections for fear of injuring myself!”

Margaret said the summer holidays came and went and she forgot all about Nurse Allgood’s recommendation.

“But when I went to Broadwey School in 1961, it seemed that every time that Morris Minor came up the drive, I was hauled, with some embarrassment, from my classroom to face Nurse Allgood standing in the medical room with a big smile on her face and a big needle in her hand!”

“As I look back now, despite all she put me through, I have fond memories of her and it’s good to know that other people still remember this fine lady.”

Margaret submitted this photo of herself at St Osmund’s School in 1957.

Ann Rendall, of Radipole, Weymouth, used to cut Dorothy’s hair.

She said: “Dorothy was such a lovely lady and I still miss her terribly. My husband Peter and I were very fond of her.

“She had lovely natural hair with a wave in it, she was a lovely friend and a sweet lady.”

As she became older Dorothy went to live in Dorin Court care home in Dorchester Road, Ann said.

Pauline Samways also has fond memories of Dorothy.

She said: “When my son was born in 1963 Dorothy would come and see me.

“I used to do some domestic work for her and I remember that he mother used to live with her in Dorchester Road.

“We lived at Buckland Ripers and used to take a turkey to her every year.

“She was a lovely lady and she always used to sit and play with toys with the children.”

Thanks also to Jean Woodward for getting in touch with memories of Dorothy Allgood.

She said: “When we knew her she lived in Dorchester Road.

“My mother was her char lady and used to clean her house.

“She was a really close family friend of ours.

“Sometimes I used to go with my mum and help out, sometimes she would come to our house and have pork stew with us.

“Nurse Allgood was also friends with Dr Ward and my mother would do cleaning for her too.”

Pam Forbes of Weymouth got in touch to say that her parents Win and Fred House both worked at the clinic in Westham Road.

She said: “My dad was an assistant to Dr Gordon Wallace and my mum was a clinic nurse.

“Miss Allgood was referred to as Dolly and my mum often accompanied her to schools and other local clinics, weighing babies etc and doing ‘nit’ inspections.

“I remember as a 12-year-old being highly embarrassed when out with my mum and her being referred to as Nitty Nora!

“The other health visitors I recall from the 60s were Miss Della Sunderland, who lived near Moonfleet, and a Miss Stembridge, along with a Dr Ward, who was considered a little eccentric.

“Another health visitor from the 70s, whom I often still see around town is Mrs Beth Bentley.”