Audrey Hughes, a social worker valued for her contributions to the community, both professional and private, has died aged 76.
Mrs Hughes was born in Wolverhampton but lived mainly in Fife and Angus, where her father Robert Dornan was a professional golfer and Scottish PGA champion.
She initially followed in her father’s footsteps, winning the Scottish Girls’ Championship as a girl when she attended Bell Baxter High.
She met future husband Gerry, of the US Air Force, when she was 22 and they married soon after.
His postings took them overseas and the family returned to the UK in 1968, living in England and Scotland. She first got involved with social work, which was later to be her career, through voluntary work with the USAF.
She made friends on both sides of the Atlantic and treated the American Exchange Officers’ families to Scots hospitality, teaching them to eat haggis, curl and appreciate Rabbie Burns.
The family moved to Tayport in 1978 and she joined the court and offenders’ team of Tayside Region’s social work department and, after regionalisation, worked in the criminal justice system for Dundee City Council from 1985 to 1998.
She excelled in probation work, her mixture of care and discipline helping many young people change their lives for the better.
Latterly, Mrs Hughes was a court social worker in Dundee, Forfar and Arbroath.
On retiring, she helped Victim Support and the Tayside Appropriate Adult Service, providing support to young and vulnerable people at police interviews and procedures.
Mrs Hughes was an accomplished cook and baker, frequently taking cakes, accompanied by her faithful West Highland terrier Jodie, to friends and colleagues.
She was also skilled in various aspects of craft work, decorating her cottage in Angus where she lived until she suffered a stroke, with the fruits of her labours.
The garden of Highfield Cottage at Powrie Brae north of Dundee was her pride and joy and attracted frequent visits particularly from children as she changed displays to suit the seasons. Halloween saw the branches of the trees laden with little witches while Christmas usually saw the garden packed with yuletide decorations and busloads of schoolchildren and visitors made the annual journey to enjoy the scene.
After a stroke, Mrs Hughes was cared for at Royal Victoria Hospital until her death. She is survived by children Karen, David and Christine and grandchildren Rosanna, Edward, Max, Sarah and Shannon.