A much-loved charity founder who transformed many lives through her work has died aged 91.

Betty Martindale only retired from the Ashford Dyslexia Centre at 85, after launching the organisation more than 30 years ago from the back room of a dental surgery.

Born in Bolton, Betty met her future husband Clifford when they were teenagers at secondary school.

She attended Leeds Teaching Training College before moving to Durham, where Clifford was studying agriculture. The pair were married at the age of 23.

In the late fifties, the pair had two children, Brian and Sandra, before moving to Sudan, where Clifford had secured a job as a lecturer at the University of Khartoum. He also researched agricultural practices in the region.

In 1963 and while abroad, their third child, Peter, was born,

Four years later the family returned to England, moving to Wye near Ashford. Clifford worked at the local college while Betty began tutoring at home, then going on to work with pupils in schools dotted across the county.

Son Peter, 62, said: “She had an incredible commitment to not just teaching but to helping others.

“She had such a caring aspect to her, and always wanted to help and to serve in any way she could. Especially in her work, which involved helping students in need of extra support.”

In 1989 and aged 55, Betty set up the Ashford Dyslexia Centre after being offered a job at a new special educational needs division at Kent County Council.

The charity started in the back room of Hayesbank dental surgery in Lower Queens Road in Ashford before incredible growth saw it move to East Hill, where the new site was opened by Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew later that year.

Betty aimed to provide a specialist provision for those with dyslexia, something that was not readily accessible to those who needed it at the time.

As well as offering assessments and tuition, she also ran a 24-hour helpline for those seeking advice and the next steps they could take.

Hours would also be spent compiling reports, which would enable students to receive extra support from their regular teachers.

Originally the charity helped children, but the service soon expanded its provision to adults too.

Over the years, more than a thousand people have received support from the Ashford Dyslexia Centre, which marked its thirtieth anniversary in 2019 and is now based in Park Mall in the town centre.

Speaking about the charity’s legacy Peter said: “There are so many stories of people saying how it actually helped them and transformed their lives, which, in many cases, transformed entire families.

“It’s a common tale that mum came across where intelligent children were told they’re stupid because of dyslexia, meaning they thought differently or wouldn’t be able to read something aloud in class.

“It’s become such a strong charity that provides a facility that’s still so important for children and adults alike.”

Betty also continued to campaign for special educational needs provision through her work with the British Dyslexia Association.

After retiring early from teaching, Clifford retrained as a dyslexia specialist and worked at the centre for several years.

Even after a second retirement at 80, he still visited the charity with Betty until she retired at the age of 85. The couple, Peter says, were incredibly supportive of each other and their endeavours.

A keen gardener and walker, Betty died on March 4, more than a year after Clifford’s death in October 2023 at the age of 89. The couple had been together for 73 years.

Peter says he has been touched by the many kind tributes left to his mum, following her death.

He went on: “When we’ve informed people of the news, the description that came back was what a kind person she was, that truly made a difference to people’s lives.

“She was such a special person, always caring, always serving, looking to help people the whole time.

“It’s even more remarkable when you think about how she juggled everything going on in her life. She was doing everything she could for the family, supporting my father’s work as well as being willing to help every student in need.”

A celebration of her Bett’s will be held at St Gregory and St Martin’s Church in Wye High Street from 2pm on Wednesday (April 30).