A memorial service is to be held for Moira Meikleham, one of the most popular entertainers in Dundee and Angus, who passed away at home recently at the age of 75.
Mrs Meikleham, who had battled cancer for more than 30 years, was a favourite with audiences at clubs and sheltered housing complexes throughout the region over the past 15 years.
Along with her husband, Derek (79), she entertained thousands of elderly and infirm people at their ”disco” nights, playing popular records and encouraging the residents to dance and join in the fun evenings.
An inspiration to all her family, they are to hold a memorial to her ”warmth, sparkle and her sunny outlook” on life despite her condition, in the British Legion in Carnoustie next week.
Despite struggling with advanced breast cancer, Mrs Meikleham continued to entertain into the last weeks of her life, appearing at two Jubilee celebrations dressed as the Queen.
Never letting illness get in the way, she also entertained at the Carnoustie Legion on Hogmanay while undergoing chemotherapy.
Born in Dundee, she attended at Rockwell before becoming a hairdresser in Caird’s store in the city.
She met her husband at the Gilfillan Drama Club in 1956, where Mr Meikleham wrote many plays and theatrical skits that Mrs Meikleham brought the twinkle and pizzazz to.
She became a full-time mother until her children, Pauline and Jackie, went to school, returning to hairdressing in Dundee and eventually becoming self-employed.
Deciding to reinvent herself, she left hairdressing and became a medical secretary and then a sales consultant for Panasonic UK.
At this time she became well-known as an enthusiastic, prize-winning public speaker and member of International Training in Communications.
She returned to the entertainment world during the late 1990s when she and Derek began their disco, dressing up and reminiscing gigs, playing at various clubs and sheltered housing complexes across the region.
During the same decade, she became a keen golfer, and a move to Carnoustie in 2000 allowed her to really develop her love of the game when she became a well-loved member of the Caledonian Club.
Her love of theatre and entertaining was inherited by her daughters, who won many children’s competitions.
Pauline known in showbusiness circles as Pauline M Hynd has continued her parents’ legacy, working as a community theatre coordinator, writer and director at Dundee Rep (1997-2004), creating the Dundee Women’s Festival and recreating the Woodlands folk club’s Out of the Woods from 2006 to 2009.
Mr and Mrs Meikleham were also members of North End Social Club from 1971 on.
All friends are welcome to attend her memorial service and celebration on Wednesday August 29 at 3.30pm at The British Legion, Carnoustie.