Obituary: Gillian Dickie

It is with great sadness that OT reports the death of optometrist Gillian Dickie (nee Lees) after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Remembering her friend, Anne Donovan shared: “Gillian gained her BSc in Ophthalmic Optics from Glasgow College of Technology in 1978. She qualified in 1979 after a pre-reg year with McLaren and McKechnie in Hardgate. Gillian then moved to Duncan and Todd, Aberdeen where she met and married fellow optometrist, Douglas Dickie.

“Gillian divided her busy life between motherhood and being an optometrist in the Dickie family business.

“In 2004, she ran the London Marathon raising £3000 for the Royal National Institute of Blind People. After Douglas retired, they spent three years living in Spain. On their return to the UK, Gillian became involved with the Clan Cancer Support Centre in Aberdeen, as well as pursing her hobbies of choral singing, golf and sugar craft. In 2015 she and Douglas relocated to Richmond, North Yorkshire to be closer to their two young grandsons.

“Sadly, Gillian discovered that she had an aggressive brain tumour and after facing the disease with great courage she passed away peacefully on 24 January. She had a full and varied life and will be missed by her family and friends.”

Gillian is survived by Douglas and their sons, Andrew and Michael, together with grandsons, Fraser and Matthew.