MEMBERS of a drama group have planted a tree in memory of a founding member of their club.

Dorchester Drama have contributed towards a tree being planted in Dorchester’s Borough Gardens and have dedicated it to the memory of Ann Ottaway.

Ann passed away suddenly in April 2016, having just completed a run as prompt for the comedy Ladies Day.

Fran Sansom of Dorchester Drama said: "Prompting was but a small part of Ann’s talents. She had directed, acted, supervised, prompted and advised in many productions over many years.

"Most recently she had directed a smart and funny production of Peter Gordon’s Generations Apart, and acted as a superb Mole in Toad of Toad Hall, a role for which many of the society’s younger members will long remember her.

Dorchester Drama decided to dedicate a tree to Ann to remember her wonderful work both on stage and off, and as a committed committee member over decades.

The decision to help fund a tree in the gardens was easily made, as Ann often liked to visit one she herself had helped plant near the Cornwall Road entrance in 2000, dedicated to three earlier major players in the Dorchester Dramatic Society.

This new planting, of a magnificent Cercidiphyllum japonicum, or Katsura tree, took place on Saturday 14th January.

Drama members and friends watched as Ann’s daughter Sally, and long standing member Billie Brown shovelled in the first soil. Known for its delicate heart shaped leaves and beautiful autumn shades of pink, red and yellow, this tree stands proudly near the Princes Street entrance to the gardens.