Tributes to a neighborhood Edinburgh hero who sadly passed away just lately have poured in with family and friends describing her as “considered one of a form.”
Marie Cole, who acquired the nickname ‘the canine woman of Leith‘ tragically misplaced her battle with most cancers on October 16, aged 74. Marie, who lived in Leith her complete grownup life, was well-known to locals and store homeowners inside the group as her neighbours of 18 years informed how she would do “something for anyone.”
Wherever Marie would go, her dogs adopted, as she acquired given the nickname ‘the canine woman of Leith’. Throughout her time within the capital, Marie owned six dogs in whole: Ranger, Cord, Black Ranger, Amber, Bailey and Angel – who has been handed on to her long-time neighbours Katie and Derek.
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With a submit on-line concerning Marie’s unhappy passing gathering a whole lot of likes and feedback, it turned evident that the 74-year-old was a beloved determine inside the group.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live about her late auntie, Leeanne Cole stated: “She moved to Leith at 18 and lived throughout Leith and for the final 39 years she lived in Kirk road the place she turned the canine woman of Leith walking by way of the Kirkgate along with her many dogs.
“She additionally taken care of her neighbours canine Sophie and she or he turned a part of the crew. And the opposite dogs she’s watched over the years. Shouting after her dogs as a result of they know what outlets face them treats.
“She at all times had a pocket filled with treats simply so she might feed the dogs within the Kirkgate each canine and each proprietor would cease to speak a 5 minute journey to the store may very well be an hour.
“Even when she sick she nonetheless went to the Kirkgate on her scooter with angel on her knee along with her basket filled with treats to feed the dogs she seen and the 2 sausage dogs outdoors the barber’s they’d anticipate her to cross on a regular basis.”
Describing their time dwelling subsequent door to Marie on Kirk Street, Katie Beale and her accomplice Derek stated should you acquired chatting to Marie outdoors, you may be left standing an hour later.
Derek recalled: “The complete 18 years I knew Marie she at all times had two dogs however she additionally had extra previous to that – that is how she acquired the nickname the canine woman of Leith.
“She would go to the Kirkgate purchasing centre a number of instances a day and that was her social circle. She would chat away with all people and each canine she handed she would feed as her pockets had been at all times filled with treats.
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“We’ve acquired a canine so after we had been walking she would take care of it. She initially had a black and golden Labrador, then she had two black labs and she or he had Bailey and Amber. Angel, who’s presently with us, is a miniature Yorkie.”
Speaking about Marie and her many roles after transferring to Leith, Derek’s accomplice Katie stated: “She was at SAI (Scottish Agricultural Industries) for years and years however I feel it went out of business.
“She then labored round a few pubs round Leith. She simply had time for everyone and we knew she helped different folks with messages so is anybody wanted something she would assist them out.
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“She was out and in of the pound store, the electrical energy store, the native butcher and knew each store proprietor by their first title.
“In Kirk Street there’s a actual group so folks spend a number of time collectively and assist one and different. She was simply at all times out so you’d see her a number of instances a day. She had all types of tales in regards to the old days as she grew up at a Quarriers home on the Bridge of Weir.
“We would not have been capable of have our canine with out Marie as we labored within the workplace so she would take care of it for us and have become a second mum to our canine.”