Doreen Mitchison, who was a well known market trader, died at Darlington Memorial Hospital last week.
Born in Darlington in 1922, Mrs Mitchison, nee Middleton, started work in a local covered market aged 14.
In 1939 she took over her first stall, but her mother had to take on the lease as she was not yet 21.
A diligent worker, Doreen and her brothers John and Norman built the business up over the following decades until it became regarded as one of the town’s best places for a bite to eat.
Their sausagemeat savoury sandwiches proved a hit among local shoppers and the recipe was a closely guarded secret.
Newlyweds would even visit for their wedding breakfasts after ceremonies at the nearby registry office.
She married Sydney Davidson in 1947 and the couple had one daughter – Rozzanne. They were later divorced, and Doreen went on to marry William Mitchison.
Mrs Mitchison was involved in several other businesses, including Town and Country Tailoring at Grange Road, and a fish shop at Middleston St George, and even worked as an overhead crane driver during the war.
After 61 years at work, she reluctantly retired from the market at the age of 75.
For years after her retirement, people continued to recognise her as the face of the Middleton Savoury stall.
She leaves two brothers – John and Norman, daughter Rozzanne, and grandchildren Caroline, James and Edward.
