Anne Doyle (nee Chapman) was born at home in Ladywood, an inner suburb of Birmingham City, on 21st September 1920. Anne lived here with her parents Julia and Joseph and 4 sisters.

When Anne left school at 15 she began work for Smith & Pepper a jewellery company in the centre of Birmingham.

She worked here until she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1942.

The women of the WAAF's were a new breed of female - strong and independent which described Anne's character so well.

This become a real turning point in Anne's life, because it was in this job that she met Eric, her future husband.

Anne was a transport driver allocated to the RAF Transport Division, and her job was to ferry aircrew to and from airfields.

She met Eric when they were both stationed at Predannack in Cornwall. Eric was in the RAAF as part of the aircrew working in Coastal Command. They were married not than six weeks from their first meeting on the beach.

After peace was declared, Eric returned to Australia in 1945 and Anne followed in 1946.

Out of these events Anne started a new life with Eric, far away from all her close family.

The next part of Anne's story continues in Australia with Eric.

They travelled all over NSW with Eric's work in local government, starting out in Tamworth, then Forbes, followed by Kempsey, Wingham, Taree and Mullumbimby.

They finally settled in Wauchope in 1966.

Due to life's circumstances Anne was not able to reunite with her family in the UK until 1977 and then did so numerous times after that.

Anne was a great community worker and achieved the highest honour in Rotary, being awarded a Paul Harris Fellow medal.

Her tireless work for Legacy also resulted in her achieving a life membership of Torch Bearers for Legacy.

Anne and Eric have three children, Pam, Lynn and Brett, seven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren who are scattered all over Australia and the world.

She has always been a devoted wife and mother and fantastic grandmother, and always delights in getting news of her great grandchildren.

Anne has led a rich and rewarding life and her family are very proud of her.

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