A BLUE plaque has been unveiled for journalist and campaigner for the disabled, Doris Page.

Doris “Ann Armstrong” Page was born in Walthamstow on November 17, 1925, the daughter of a dray horse keeper, and attended primary and secondary schools in West Berkshire until the outbreak of the Second World War caused her school to be evacuated to Luton.

Family circumstances caused her to return home during the early years of the war, and as a teenager she joined and trained with the Red Cross.

As soon as she was able to she signed up for military service with the Women’s Royal Naval Service, was posted to the Mediterranean Fleet and worked in signals.

During her naval service Doris met Ken, her future husband. Returning to the UK after the war, they married, initially settling in Whetstone, North London. With the arrival of two young sons (Brian and Andrew) and concerned about the severe pollution and fogs of post war London, they sought a healthier life.

Ken took a local government job in Berkshire and they moved to 39 Essex Street, Newbury, in the early 1950s.

Reading Chronicle: The plaque dedicated to Doris' life was unveiled by the Deputy Mayor of Newbury, Cllr Gary Norman on Thursday, May 5.

Doris contracted polio in 1955 and was confined to an iron lung for the rest of her life. 

With the support of her husband Ken, she campaigned tirelessly for the necessary infrastructure to enable disabled people to lead a viable home life, as a founder member of the charity “Independence at Home”. 

Doris took a postal course in journalism and started to write on disabled issues for the local and national press, under the pen-name “Ann Armstrong”, using specialist equipment which made writing possible. 

From 1963-88 she was editor of “The Responaut” magazine (the name may be a contraction of “respiratory” and “astronaut”).

In 1968, Doris was awarded the MBE for her services.  She wrote two books – “Patient’s Prospect” and “Breath of Life” – which were serialised on BBC Woman’s Hour.

Councillor Nigel Foot, Vice-Chair of the Town Council’s Heritage Working Group, said: “The present residents of 39 Essex Street, Alison and Mike Joliffe, have very kindly agreed for the blue plaque to be attached to their home, where it will be easily legible from the street.     

"The Town Council is very grateful to Mr and Mrs Joliffe, to the Newbury Society for generously contributing £100 to the cost of the plaque, and to Dave Stubbs for advising us on Doris’ life and achievements”.