Thanks to Terry Yarrow for sharing about Doreen's special celebration and her long time connection with SCFS. We were delighted to send Doreen a birthday greeting and to thank her for knitting so faithfully for the seafarers. Read on to discover more about Doreen's love and service for the Lord...
The 20th September 2025 marked the auspicious occasion of the 100th birthday of Doreen Gover, a long time supporter of the work of SCFS.
Doreen was born on 20th September 1925 at Winton, Bournemouth to William and Millie Giles who were staunch Salvationists, her dad being deputy bandmaster at Winton Salvation Army at the time. The family moved and started attending Parkstone Free Evangelical Church and it was there that Doreen met future husband Ron Gover. They were married during WW2 and after a very short honeymoon in Weymouth, Ron returned to wartime duties at sea. After the war, the couple moved to a bungalow in Parkstone where they had two children, Christine in 1953 and Graham in 1957. They continued to serve at the Parkstone church, and Doreen remains a member of that church, now known as The Gateway Church, to this day.
Doreen has always been a worker for the Lord in her church, having a real servant heart for those less fortunate. Wherever there was a need, Doreen was there to help. Over the years, she has held many roles in the church, and one enduring one came through her love of knitting, something she has used to benefit others for most of her life. In the earlier years, this came through the Dorcas group, when a number of the ladies from the church met to knit garments to go out to the mission field or hospitals. After many years, with the members getting older, this group closed but Doreen continued to knit on her own, and at 100 years old, she still continues. It is through this activity that Doreen became involved with SCFS and she has sent very many hats and gloves for use by seamen.
At 100 years old, Doreen continues to live independently, and to serve others by knitting, hosting a mid-week bible study in her home, and doing other tasks in the church. She has even been known to walk down the local High Street with packages of hats, gloves, chocolate etc for any homeless people there. She is an example in how to live! On the 20th September, a surprise party was held to celebrate the milestone with Doreen. Somehow, the family managed to keep this a secret from Doreen right up to the point when she walked into the church hall and everyone already present and waiting struck up with ‘Happy Birthday to you’ and cheering. Maybe for the first time in her life, Doreen was speechless! What followed was a wonderful few hours with the playing of some of Doreen’s favourite old hymns by an ensemble from the Boscombe Salvation Army, a ‘This is Your Life’ presentation that included many video greetings from friends and family overseas, and from organisations such as SCFS who Doreen had served over many years, speeches, including a challenging message from Doreen herself as she gave praise to the Lord who had ‘never let her down’. Of course, there was also time for cake and for many personal and individual greetings and present giving.
The day was a wonderful celebration of a much loved mum, nan, great nan, church member and friend, whose life is an example to all in how to live, in particular a life of love and service for the Lord.
Terry Yarrow
