Features and Review

Dorothy was born Finglesham near Sandwich in Kent and met her husband Roland Hill when he was stationed at Dover Castle. He later became a Pipe Major for the Seaforth Highlanders and During World War II Roland was evacuated from Dunkirk on the HMS Lancastria, which was sunk by the enemy; however he survived to be returned to England. Their first son Robert, was born in Bat and Ball, Kent and their second son Alistair was born in Fort George, Scotland. In 1955 the family emigrated to Canada, when Roland was to join the 4th Battalion Cdn Guards. Serving as Command Inspector of Pipe Band In Ontario Before retiring, then moving back to England. Alistair remained in Canada to raise his own family when Dorothy and Roland eventually returned to England. In the early 70s Dorothy and Roland then headed for Spain taking up residence for three years, then returning to England. Not long after Roland passed away in 1977 Dorothy decided then to move to Brixham. Grandson Robert said,” Grandmother followed my Grand Father wherever he went piping and was a hard working mother, as well as looking after her two sons.”

Now living in the United States, from his home in Farmington Hills near Detroit, Michigan, son Alistair organised the celebrations for Dorothy's special day, having banners made for each of the Hill family pipers and drummers as they carried on the family tradition established by father, grandfather and great grandfather Roland! Wearing the Munro Tartan, which Roland was allowed to wear because his mother was Mary Munro.

The 7 pipers and 2 drummers of the family included; son, Alistair, 4 grandsons, Robert, Colin, Steven and Roland, 2 great grandsons Andrew and Malcolm and niece Catriona. With their procession starting at the Prince William of Orange Statue, they paused at the Crown and Anchor to drink a toast to Dorothy, on route to the Yacht Club, playing tunes including ‘Scotland the Brave', ‘The Green Hills of Tyrol' and ‘When the battle's over.'

At the Yacht Club Dorothy was welcomed by town crier Ken Purchase, the greeting from the Queen's on her 100th Birthday was given to Dorothy's by her grandson Robert, before more piping tributes and celebration of the family's Scottish heritage, including a performance of Highland dancing by great granddaughter Veronica. The choice of the Brixham Yacht Club as a venue was quite natural as son Robert was a well known member of the Club lovingly known as ‘Rockie'. Robert passed away in 2004 and as Alistair continues to visit to his mother in Brixham, he regularly pipes in the New Year at the Yacht Club.

Amongst the entertainment and feasting, the birthday cake presentation was accompanied by Happy Birthday, played on the pipes by Roland. Vice-Chairman of Torbay Council (Councillor Terry Manning) and his consort (Mrs Jenny Manning) were present with Martyn Hodges represented Brixham Town Council on a day when Dorothy enjoyed ‘the biggest gathering of the Hill Clan in a long time' with relatives joining her from far beyond Brixham, including Kent, Scotland, the United States, Canada and Greece. When asked how she had enjoyed the day Dorothy said,” I wasn't expecting anything like this, they've made it such a big day that I'm lost for words, but I'm so happy!”