My grandmother, Maureen Dunbar, who has died aged 86, helped raise awareness of eating disorders in the 1980s with the publication of a bestselling memoir about her daughter Catherine, who died of anorexia at the age of 22. Maureen’s commitment to sharing her family’s experience was greatly admired and provided succour to many affected by the illness.
She was born in Muswell Hill, north London, to Cyril Harris, a colonel in the British army, and his wife, May (nee Condon). Cyril moved the family to Ballycotton, County Cork, for most of the second world war due to fear of a German invasion. Maureen returned to England with her family in 1943. After the war they settled in South Kensington in central London, and Maureen was educated at the Convent of Sacred Heart High school in Hammersmith.
After leaving school, Maureen worked in the US for a few years as a librarian at the Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University. Back in London, in 1955 she met John Dunbar, a businessman and accountant, at a meeting of the Catholic lay fraternity the Catenian Association. They married in 1958 and had four children, Simon, Richard, Catherine and Anna. Their marriage later ended in divorce.
Catherine battled with anorexia nervosa from the age of 15 and was ill for seven years before she died in 1984. After encouragement from her son Simon, Maureen wrote Catherine: The Story of a Young Girl Who Died of Anorexia Nervosa, which was published by Penguin in 1986. With interwoven extracts from Catherine’s diary, the book chronicled her daughter’s plight and was met with widespread acclaim. Maureen wrote it “hoping that it would create compassion, love and support from the families and friends of those unfortunate to suffer from anorexia.” In a review, the British Medical Journal said it was “a well written, compelling, and emotionally charged account of Catherine’s tragic life”.
In the late 1980s, the teacher and playwright Mark Wheeller adapted the book for the stage. Hard to Swallow was performed at the Edinburgh festival fringe in 1988 and at the National Theatre the following year; it is now a set text for GCSE drama. A film of the book, directed by Michael Whyte, was produced for ITV in 1988. Maureen was invited to give radio interviews and lectures on her experience. She delivered talks at Mansion House in London and to the charity Anorexic Family Aid (now Beat).
A devout Catholic, Maureen was involved with many causes at her local church, St Gertrude’s in Sanderstead, south London. She credited her faith with giving her solace in the arduous years following her daughter’s premature death.
She had a predilection for ballet, imbued through her attendance at the Italia Conti school, in central London, in her youth. She regularly went to performances at the Royal Opera House until her later years, and loved poetry throughout her life: she adored the cadence of the words, with Wordsworth being a particular favourite.
My grandmother was very fond of her nine grandchildren, and enjoyed introducing them to London’s landmarks. She was grateful to have a loving family and entreated them to do one act of kindness every day.
She is survived by Simon, Richard and Anna, and her grandchildren.
