Born in Bristol in 1918 and raised by her grandparents Doreen’s love of animals was fostered by her grandmother who was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need. The family shared its home with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone.
Having attended Grammar School she had a couple of boring jobs before joining Imperial Tobacco as a typist/secretary before graduating to their public relations department.
It was here that she met her future husband, Rene (called Charles in the books).
Doreen was the author of more than a dozen books about the life she and her husband shared with their Siamese cats and other animals in Somerset, England. The books have sold more than 120,000 copies in ten countries. They are currently being reissued by Sapere.
She was president of the Siamese Cat Club, President of the West of England Cat Club and President of the RSPCA for North Somerset.