doreen salmon

Everyday Life, Community & Voluntary Action 

1934 - 1990     

Suggested by Sharon Bawden  

  
“My mother Doreen Salmon lived in Penryn all her life and worked in Penryn Library (the old one in Broad Street) for approximately 16 years from 1974 until the last few months of her life. She went above and beyond the requirements of her job by remembering people’s favourite authors or interests and when new books came into the library she would reserve them for said people. She did this without people actually asking her to and they were delighted (I know this because I volunteered as a teenager in the library so I witnessed it), my mother also made time to chat to people.  

My mother had cancer for the last 12 years of her life going through many surgeries and invasive treatments, but she never complained, just kept going and was always positive.    

She took the minimal time off from her job in the library because she loved it so much and was keen to get back to see the people who regularly came in.  She also helped people by volunteering my father Robert Salmon (who didn’t mind one bit!) to give lifts to people to hospital appointments etc, as she didn’t drive herself.  

My mother was so inspirational to me and my brother because of her courage and strength through all her illness.  Plus her kindness to others not just in the library but in Penryn community through visits and helping always with a smile on her face.”