Mrs. Pile being shown some love by Patrick Skeete in 2006
Mrs. Pile being shown some love by Patrick Skeete in 2006

She was an educator and a lady.

All who had the opportunity to have interacted with the late Dorien Pile was smitten by a dignity and sincerity she always exuded. She defined lady. Her selfless service as a board member at the Barbados Council for the Disabled, or as a geography teacher at her beloved Combermere School where she progressed to become principal of that illustrious institution, ensures there is a foundation upon which her legacy will securely rest.

Several women, and men, have combined to mould the Combermarian in the last 50 years – the Lordes, Mayers, Hinksons,  Jebodhsinghs et al – it is Pile with a D and not C who many judge to have exerted the greatest influence on those around her.

She was a class act. Barbados and the world is the poorer for her passing.

May you rest in peace Mrs Pile!

5 responses to “Dorien Pile, the lady”

  1. de Ingrunt Word Avatar

    My deepest condolences to the family of Mrs. Pile, long standing educator and as noted above also stalwart and representative to those with physical disadvantages.

    We often take small things for granted but the introduction of a visually challenged girl to a secondary school, Combermere, not equipped to handle such educational direction and the fact that it was a success is testament to the vision, determination, intelligence and depth of human kindness exhibited by this impressive lady.

    That girl went on to fulfill her educational dreams and is now the President of the Barbados Senate.

    One telling example of a life filled with real and meaningful actions by Mrs Dorian Pile.

    After these months of illness and sadness, may she now rest peacefully with her Lord as she rises to the glory of praise!

    To her husband, family and close friends I say ‘life very well lived’ to the memory of a great human being.

    “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
    ― Maya Angelou


  2. Mrs Pile was truly a lady of unmatchable class, but contrary to that statement in the article about “a Pile with a D and not with a C’, a discerning eye would have noted that it was precisely the complimentary C that enhanced the impact, effectiveness and success of the D. Truly a couple that exemplified all that was good about a great school.

    Almost everyone who have been impacted by the experience of Cawmere of the 60’s and 70’s appear to have influenced by some type of spiritual experience …most positive, but also a few very negatively.

    Mrs Pile exemplified the positive spirit of Combermere and has been able to extend and to share that spirit well into the 21st Century as teacher, Principal and mentor.

    Condolences to her family, to the Cawmere family, and to all her friends. She lived a life of true service and excellence and leaves behind hundreds of persons – like the same Patrick Skeete, whom she would have influenced to live similar lives of service to the community – especially to the youth of the country.

    Barbados urgently needs young persons of her ilk…..


  3. @Bush Tea

    You picked up on the D and C business? Will expand on another occasion. Agree with you the C was very supportive and did a lot of work outside of the syllabus to add value to the Cawmere ethos.


  4. There will be an evening of Reflection and Remembrance for Mrs Dorien Pile, former Principal, on Wednesday, August 19th from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm in the Major Noott Hall. The funeral service will take place on Thursday, August 20th at 3:30 pm at St. George’s Parish Church followed by the interment.


  5. Steve Dowrich, another gentleman from my era; Deceased. A good man gone to the Elysian Fields.
    It’s getting closer.

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