Doris Ann Goodchild facts for kids

Doris Ann Goodchild (born March 11, 1906 – died September 19, 1999) was a talented British artist, writer, and illustrator. She also worked as a teacher and helped raise money for charities.

Early Life and Learning

Doris Ann Goodchild was born in London on March 11, 1906. Her parents, Fred and Edith Goodchild, ran a fabric shop. Doris was one of seven children.

She was a very smart child. She won a special scholarship to a local grammar school. In 1923, she began training to become a teacher. She lived above her family's shop for many years. She taught in different schools during her training. In 1942, she moved to Bristol to teach. The city had been damaged during the war.

In Bristol, she met Margaret McQueen Burnett. Margaret became her close friend and companion for life. In 1956, they started sharing a home in Bishop’s Stortford. By 1958, they began planning for their retirement. Margaret was a head teacher, and Doris was a senior lecturer. They decided to move to East Lothian after a holiday there. In 1965, they bought land in Haddington to build their new home.

Retirement and Books

During their retirement, Doris and Margaret were very busy. They helped with local charity work. They also traveled a lot, both in their own country and abroad.

Doris loved to write, sketch, and paint. She recorded many details from their travels and daily lives. In 1978, she published her first book. It was an illustrated guide to Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile.

After Margaret passed away, Doris sold many of her own artworks. She gave the money to local charities. Doris died suddenly at her home in Haddington in September 1999. She left many of her writings, sketchbooks, and notebooks to the National Library of Scotland.

Special Recognition

Doris Ann Goodchild received a special award called an MBE. This award was given to her in the 1999 New Year Honours List. She was honored for her amazing illustrations, especially in guidebooks. She was also recognized for her work in education.

One of her paintings, called White Californian Poppies, is now part of the collection at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture.

Books by Doris Ann Goodchild

Doris Ann Goodchild wrote and illustrated many books, often sharing her observations and travels. Here are a few of them:

• Goodchild, Doris Ann, The Royal Mile a Souvenir Guide (1978)
• Goodchild, Doris Ann, Hills of Edinburgh (1979)
• Goodchild, Doris Ann, Pen Portraits of Edinburgh (1981)
• Goodchild, Doris Ann, Glimpses of a Few Cities, Towns, Countrysides, at Home & Abroad: Some 700 Drawings & Diary (1984)
• Goodchild, Doris Ann, Travels In Scotland, England and Overseas (1986)
• Goodchild, Doris Ann, The Spoils of Time – Some aspects of Living in this 20th Century (1988)
• Goodchild, Doris Ann, Diary Days in the 86th Year of Great Aunt Tit-Bit (1990)