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Farewell
DORIS
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I'm so sorry not to have the
last of Doris.I can't imagine that she "wents" like that....For two
years, we spent 3 weeks on the Australian beautiful roads together with Steve and
about 12 other persons before 50s Wima Birthday: it was fantastic! It is
uncredible that such persons leave the world with illness! After so many miles
on a bike! Her first International Rally was in 1990 in France and she spoke
always with me of this time...Steve must be so unhappy and I think very much an
him and also at Doris'children. She could live still so many beautiful years.
Doris, you will find up there many wima friends: I heard that in the sky, it is
like here and that you also will ride with a bike(a friend of me who
"visited" me an who was dead with a bike's crash,came last time with
a new bike!);At all Doris's friends,I will say from us in France, all our
sadness . Love
Chantal (Captain WIMA France)
I was sad to hear the news. I
remember her being full of fun when she came to the rally here.
I am sure she will be missed
by many.
Wendy Abbott,
Spain
Im ferie sorry thai my frist kontakt with you as the new
Captain of Sweden will be like this.
From Sweden we send our
CONDOLENCES and DEEPEST SYMPATHY for your loss.
Especialy to Steve Porter.
Our Thougts will be with you in these days. Some of us remeber Doris well.
Berry Keller,
Captain WIMA Sweden
I'm so sorry to hear about
Doris....and I have no words which will go any way towards reconciling you with
your grief. Across the miles, we're all thinking (particularly)of you and the
other UK WIMA members. Please pass on my condolences to Steve (life's a bitch
eh)
Lee Skinner (Australia)
Merci pour ton e-mail. C'est
très triste, que Doris est déjà morte. Ils me manquent les
mots.
But: In our hearts she will
live on, until we go ourselves.
J'ai écrit une carte
direct à Steve.
Margrit
Podesser (Switzerland)
Like everyone, I'm stunned to
hear about Doris. Such a
shock. I can only think back to
Doris "still doing it at 60".
It's inconceiveable that she won't be still doing it for much much
longer than she was allowed. But at least she did it. Again and again. With
vigour.
Such sad news. My heart goes out to Steve.
Vanessa
Bretton (GB)
I will write in German
because i don`t know how to say it in english. Hope you understand.
Ich wußte nicht, dass
Doris so krank war. Ich habe sie in Tschechien als sehr lebenslustige,
liebenswerte Frau kennen gelernt und mich auf die Zusammenarbeit mit ihr sehr
gefreut. Ich bin bestürzt und traurig, dass sie jetzt so plötzlich
gestorben ist. Im Namen der österreichischen Wima-Frauen möchte ich
unser tiefstes Mitgefühl ausdrücken und Doris Familie und ihren
Freunden viel Kraft wünschen um diese schwere Zeit zu meistern.
Alles Liebe
Bettina
(Captain WIMA Austria)
I am really glad that Doris made it to Czech, it would be very typical of her to carry on regardless, and I am sure she would have had a wonderful time there. We will send a card/letter from the club directly to Steve, but please pass on the message below and our warmest wishes when you see him.
Liz Kealy (Australia)
What a sudden shock about Doris - just 3 weeks is such an unfair a time - neither a short sharp shock, nor a longer period to get things sorted, see important people and settle one's mind to the inevitable.
I am fairly sure that Doris was WIMA VIC's furthest flung member and I appreciate the honour she did us by becoming a member when she used to meet WIMA members from so many different places, some far more exotic than Melbourne.
And while I used to think that 67 was "old", somehow as my own years tick by, it doesn't seem old at all - probably by dint of people like Doris who just get on and irrepressibly do the things they always did, irrespective of the number on the front of the diary. Bugger.
And cancer is such an unfair disease - if Darwin was right (natural selection and all that other clever stuff) it shouldn't exist, as it tries to kill its host. Perhaps in future times, we will beat it every time, not just some of the time.
Certainly events like WIMA's recent Pink Ribbon rides are the first, tiny pebbles in what will one day become a mighty wall to beat this insidious sickness.
Liz Kealy (Australia)
MEMORIES OF DORIS from Cally and Lesley (GB)
Cally
and I remember very clearly the first time we met Doris: 1984, our first WIMA National Rally, at
Callow Top Farm near Ashbourne in Derbyshire … Doris was wandering around
the field, adorned in, amongst other things a knitted hat with the word DORIS
emblazoned across the front, and selling raffle tickets. She was friendly and
welcoming, and over the following years we would get to know her very
well.
As
friends we have known Doris as a widow, a second time married woman, and a
mother, as well as her being a late-in-life, but none the less enthusiastic
motorcyclist. In everything, some
common themes emerge ….. Doris has always been kind, generous and supportive;
utterly without prejudice and entirely accepting of anyone and everyone, no
matter their background or lifestyle; completely committed, determined and
tenacious in the pursuit of the things she believed in ….in particular,
her fight for justice and fairness for Stevie after his accident, demonstrated
to us everything a mother should be for her son.
We had an absolute respect for this woman, who spoke her mind, stood up for what she believed in, was often outspoken, but never, ever, unkind.
For
us, Doris proved consistent in her friendship, and her and Steve were frequent
and welcome visitors both before and after we had the children. After Molly arrived, Doris showed
understanding, and an absolute but subtle, consistent support, with her and
Steve joining us for many of Molly’s birthday parties. They both had a lovely rapport with
Molly, which often gave us a bit of breathing space on days out together.
Our
memories of Doris are fond, and tinged with humour. Doris’ enjoyment of her glass of wine introduced the
phrase ‘Getting Dorised’ into WIMA language; she ALWAYS arrived
first …. on the many occasions that we ran a WIMA event from our home, we
knew who our first guest would be.
She was excellent at getting to the heart of essential info about a
venue, which she then cheerfully shared with everyone. You could be certain you’d found
the right site, arriving tired and late at a foreign WIMA event … because
there would be Doris (usually with a glass of the red in hand) being all warm
and welcoming.
Serving
on the WIMA committee with her was a privilege: she was voluble, expressive and
involved – and worked hard for the benefit of the Club. When she left the Committee, she
retained her interest and involvement in debating with heartfelt interest, the
issues she felt were important to WIMA.
We
had, and will retain, a huge admiration for Doris: for her energy, her ability to meet life full on and take it
on, her tenacity and determination in facing challenges along the way, her
enthusiasm for travel and discovery, either with Steve or on her own. A quite extraordinary woman.
I am so saddened by your mail. I have been off line for a few days and have looked at my mails out of order. What can I say, but I feel so heavy with sadness for our loss of a great Lady.
I will write to Steve on behalf of WIMA Australia. Please extend our deepest sympathies at her last ride. In Love & Light
Julie Jessop
(Captain WIMA Australia)
I remember Doris very well as someone who set a good example
to us all of what a truly comitted biker should be. And a very nice person too.
I think we'll all miss her. I'm very sad that she's gone. – Gill Gee
(GB)
more than a shock. something unbelievable. not only the loss of a friend, but as well the loss of a theory: illness is something for people that suffer from life. doris has been so "living", so activ, more than lot of us that are much younger. shame on me, that this summer i retired from german wima with the words: "it will be the time of laptops, that starts now - but without me!" same evening at the captain's dinner i have been sitting side by side with doris and her notebook. i felt very old. now she is gone. and i'm thinking between deep sadness and a wonderful feeling, that i had the chance, to know her. i realized her first in japan with her question for the "long-distance-award" in kyoto. and last year in castellar we had our tents nearby and we had very fine evenings sitting together in the warm nights. we spoke a lot about their life and now everytime i hear the song
"he was a carpenter and she was a lady" i have to think about this lovely couple.
Floh Petit (WIMA International Treasurer and ex-German
Captain)
Dear Steve, We extend our deepest sympathy on the passing of Doris. She had many biking friend here in Japan, and all of them admired her kindness, sweetness, and passion for motorcycling. We love her very much, and never forget her big smile.
WIMA JAPAN
Steve, Please accept my deepest condolences. I still have the badge she made on her birthday some years ago saying "Doris is still doing it". I am sure she IS still doing it up there. I can still hear her loud and warm voice in my head, and I will be encouraged to live and ride by it until I join her up
there. I feel very lucky to have met Doris. She had sent us a message before she went to the hospital, and I didn't think it was that serious. I want to see her big smile and loud voice again. I have missed her for years, and now, I will miss her for life.
Yuko Sugeta (Captain WIMA Japan)
To Mr.Steve Porter, I am truly sorry to a loss of Doris, and would like to expess my heartfelt sympathy. A T-shirt which I strongly requested Doris to give me this summer in Czecho is now here as her memorial goods. I will always remember her whenever I put on this T-shirt.
Ms.Maki KOFUJI (Japan)
I'm truly sorry to learn of the sudden death of Doris. I'll
ever respect and never forget her positive thinking and energetic activity.
Thank you, Doris. Rest in peace. Atsuko(Japan)
To Steve
It was a great shock for me to know that Doris died all of a sudden. I am truly sorry about her death and would like to express my heartfelt sympathy to you.
I never can imagine that I met Doris in Czecho rally at the last opportunity to see her. I now recall her that she was fed up with typical Japanese fish dishes at Izu and Kyoto in 1996, and that she
enjoyed with you put on a T-shirt with a lot of languages in Australia in a nice couple, and that she was so active and excited in Czecho rally catching me $B!F(JLets go to disco now,' despite much younger I was so tired.
I am veery sad now as I will not be able to see her again next year in your county. On the coutrary, I am happy now to have met such an attractive person and a nice husband like you in my life hrough our mutural taste of motor cycles.
Deep sleep forever.Doris. With a deepest sympathy.
Michiko HITOMI and Tei (Japan)
Doris was certainly one special lady, and didn't let conventions get in the way of what she wanted to do, which I admired her immensely for. She will be missed by all who knew her, but always remembered for her unique style. I have so many good memories of her, not least of when we went "on tour" in Australia.
Love Bev Champion (GB)
Doris brought a new phrase into WIMA circles. When she had a little too much to drink at the International Rally in Strasbourg, back in 1990, we all had a chuckle. She could seem so stern with her School Marm manner at times, that to see her a little tipsy would have made anyone smile. The following evening I followed her example and was immediately accused of 'being "Doris'd"
It goes without saying that we shall all miss her dearly, I shall get Doris'd on her behalf [No disrespect meant there] She was indeed a true friend, and an example to all of us. Always there to add gravity to the situation, but also honesty and humility, combined with a wonderful sense of humour and the ability to let her hair down. We have all lost loved ones, and at the time we find it hard to believe that 'Time will Heal' but it does and no-one can ever take away our precious memories.
Cherry Selby (GB)
What sad news I never knew Doris I did read the articles she wrote for the WIMA mag. She did some things that never have the nerve to do. Although this is a very sad time for her family, please pass on to them what I was told when my father died. At the time I did think it was just a few kind
words, but it is true kind words. Remember the happiness you have both shared, the smiles and laughter at the silly things. The pain felt now will be less in time helped by the happy memories.
Remember all the happiness, pain and sadness will soon subside.
Valeria Rawcliffe (GB)
Have just read the sad news. Please pass on our love and condolences to Steve and the family. Even though we never met I felt I knew her from all her articles in Wima News over the years - my earliest Wima memories are of her account of looking after her son when he had his accident. She was and will continue to be an inspiration.
Lu Travers (GB)
Indeed with a sense of deep shock and incredulity I read your e-mail about the passing away of our dear Doris. I immediately recalled, how we talked and laughed and had fun at the campfire last summer, after your Captain’s meeting was over… She was in such an extremely happy state of mind and said, that she and I would be very capable to take over from you and run Presidency from next year onward. I sincerely and deeply felt our power… and I promised her to stand up as a candidate. Her help, as you have experienced during the last few months (and probably much longer) really appealed to me !! And she persuaded me at that moment.
However, it is not in the first place that we now have no vice-president of course, that I feel terribly bad about the fact she died. My first concern naturally goes out to Steve, who was always at her side. I remember my mother had died, 1990, and my father, little brother Jos of 8 and me went to the WIMA-rally which took place in France that summer. There, Steve was one of the few men around, in whom my father could find some kind of a companion/a man to talk to… Ever since, Steve and Doris always asked me how my dad and brother were doing, which always meant a great deal to me.
Doris was a very special, very powerful, witty woman. Everybody knew her. She was always in for a ride, a good talk and for a lot of fun, preferably with a bit of alcohol. She’d sing along and make everybody smile ! An extremely active woman – whom I didn’t actually know so well, but from what I’ve seen of her, a great person. I miss her already ! And I will always remember her and think of her when thinking of the international WIMA; she’ll always be part of it somehow !!
I sincerely hope you can manage to create a motorcyclists funeral. When my Dutch friend Lia died in the year 2000, after having been to Finland, having found her way home alone in a lot of pain, and after only a few months longer to live… we managed to gather for her funeral with a big WIMA-group on motorcyclists, despite an enormous amount of rain. It was fabulous !! And in great Britain I’m sure that group will be much bigger – and I will be there in my mind, wishing I could take part in it too !
I am glad to have known Doris and wish everybody a beautiful farewell and many sweet memories, of WIMA Doris Porter.
Rita Koopmanschap (Curacao, Netherlands Antilles)
Dear Steven, consternation and deep grief has taken place in our hearts. A great woman and beloved WIMA friend and enthusiastic vicepresident left us, but she'll stay forever in our hearts and thoughts. Now Ellen Pfeiffer has got some companionship in bikers heaven and she and Doris will look upon us gently smiling and will welcome everyone of us there some day. We send you all our strength and energy to go through this time of sorrow. In deep sympathy
Verena Reindl Captain,
WIMA-Team Germany
Thanks for letting us all know about Doris. What a shock. Her email sounded so matter-of-fact when she said she was going into hospital, with everything just routine. Although I never knew or met her I feel there is soo much to say, and yet no words to say. For there are no words to express the shock, nor the loss.
Please pass this onto her husband. I'm sure every WIMA lady around the globe will be thinking of him, and sharing their heartfelt sympathy and thoughts with him. I know we down here are.
Yvonne Forrest, Captain WIMA
New Zealand
We have met Doris only briefly at the Rally in Spain, but indeed she looked as if she was heading for another half a century in the saddle. As head of the Belgian WIMA, and as just Iris and me, I want to offer our sincerest condolences to her family and friends. We wish lots of bikers to be present, and lots of bikers and non-bikers to stay around and support each other.
Trui Hanoulle (Captain WIMA Belgium), Iris Heiremans and the Belgian WIMAs
I have known Doris since she joined WIMA GB of whom she has always been a staunch supporter. Her support, though, was not only confined to words but she was always prepared to get into the thick of things and give all the help she could.
I remember one year at Ashbourne, so soon after a very major operation, she came to the Rally in a car and sat in a chair to just 'be there'.
I know in WIMA and the FED we will miss her terribly, her strength of character and the kindly 'firmness' only a teacher could give, however, in my Beliefs one comes back many times and we have to console ourselves with the fact that she will be back but not in he form we knew her as.
Steve, what can I say? I saw the two of you get together and eventually marry.
My thoughts and love are with you but be assured Doris is not far away.
Love, Anne (Gale)
I was very sorry to hear about Doris. Our condolences to you all.
Merja Natunen, Captain WIMA
Finland and LBC Wima Finland
Thank you for letting me know about Doris, we sat together at the AGM this year and we were friendlier than we've ever been, I'm glad I had the chance to see her again.
Liz Furneaux (Philips)
I am so happy I got to know Doris closer this summer. I have known her in short doses before, but this summer we really spent some quality time. We danced for joy with her after the meeting where she was elected to Doris the II. (Second after Sho...)
I had such a wonderful time with that full of life and spunk woman. She made me promise to fly over for her 70 bash! I was honoured to be asked. I feel blessed to have had the time I did to spend with Doris. I will cherish the wonderful memories she has given me. With sorrow my deepest condolences