Weymouth and Portland’s first town crier, who “won the hearts of many”, has died.

The family of Doris Eastwood have paid tribute to their ‘much-loved matriarch’ who passed away aged 85 on Christmas Eve.

Mrs Eastwood was a well-known local figure who was a familiar face in the pages of the Echo for many years.

Born on March 7, 1933 in Plaistow, Essex, Mrs Eastwood was the youngest of nine daughters to her parents, Frank and Gertrude.

She worked as a telephonist and then as a dancer before settling on a career as a pub landlady, managing pubs in the the city of London, Wimbledon, Tooting, Effingham and Surrey.

Along with husband Peter, Mr Eastwood moved to Weymouth in 1978 where they became the landlords of the Golden Lion before taking on the Kings Arms at Portesham.

In 1982, Mrs Eastwood was crowned Weymouth and Portland’s first town crier – beating four men in the competition final at Weymouth Pavilion.

The Echo reported it was believed to was one of only a handful of female town criers in Great Britain at the time.

Six months into her role, council secretary Chris Richman said: “She has won the hearts of many with her cheery smile and bubbly personality.”

Mrs Eastwood became a member of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town criers and in 1984, she was named Britain’s best woman town crier – a title she went on to retain for the following three years.

Her award-winning crying took her all over the world for competitions andShe was crowned national champion, ladies world champion, guild champion among others.

In 1986, Mrs Eastwood’s famed booming vocals even earned her an appearance on the Late Breakfast Show with Noel Edmunds.

However, her granddaughter Rachael Boulton said the high point of her year was always leading the carnivals for Weymouth and Portland.

She later became the town crier for Langton Herring a role she was said to have adored.

Mrs Boulton said: “Family was everything to grandma – she was the matriarch. Her love knew no bounds.

“Her favourite time of year was Christmas and she made it so very special. I cannot ever remember not being with her at Christmas.

“Her last Christmas wish was to be at home surrounded by the family she loved and that happened. Words just cannot express just how much I love my grandma and granddad and I truly am so proud that I have spent my life with them. My grandma was the strongest person that I have ever met, she was my rock. My granddad and grandma’s marriage truly was one of a kind they adored one and other. My granddad is very lost at the moment but will cherish all the beautiful memories they had together forever.”

In 2018, Peter and Doris celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

She was a much-loved wife to Peter, mother to Sara and Amanda, grandmother to Rachael, Jonathon, Samantha, Michael, Charlie and Jack, mother-in-law to Jim and “absolutely adored” by her great grandchildren, Codie and Ronan.