Diana Dors granddaughter hopes to keep 'legacy alive'

Actress Diana Dors died on 4 May 1984

The granddaughter of icon actress Diana Dors says it is important to keep her legacy alive, 40 years on from her death.

Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1931, Diana Mary Fluck, famously known as Diana Dors, was known for films such as My Wife's Lodger and The Weak and the Wicked.

She died on 4 May 1984 aged 52 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Diana's granddaughter Ruby Lake said she was "proud" her grandmother's legacy and said she was a "national treasure".

Her granddaughter Ruby Lake said her grandmother was a "national treasure"

Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire, she said: "She was the first of her type to own her sexuality and use it to her advantage. I’m always quite pleased when women are able to capitalise on their beauty and their looks but also she was a very intelligent woman as well, so she capitalised on that too."

Ms Lake, the daughter of Diana's son Jason Dors Lake, who died in 2019, said it wasn't until she was around 16 years old that she realised "how big of a British icon" she was.

Ms Lake said despite not ever meeting her grandmother, she knows that she was "a very low-key person", "very gentle" and "quite a private person".

"She was just a mum to my dad," she added.

A blue plaque can be found in Kent Road, Swindon

Ms Lake said over the years she had learnt so much about her character.

"I feel like I’ve definitely inherited her work ethic. She had a very strong goal of becoming famous and becoming a famous actress. She was very determined and did everything she could to gain that," she added.

"I think it’s important to me because I know my dad would have wanted to keep her memory alive.

"I’d like to learn as much as I can in order to pass that onto my own children," she added.

Mac Brownley said it was "amazing" to find out their home had a connection with "Swindon’s famous blonde bombshell"

Mac and Jenny Brownley, who live in Kent Road in the town, said they were unaware theirs and the neighbouring house, which was once part of Haven Nursing Home, was the birthplace of Diana until they received a phone call from someone at Swindon Heritage.

Haven Nursing Home, which was revealed on Diana's birth certificate, was once a base for midwives before later being turned into a house.

Next door was originally a GP surgery which allowed doctors to walk through and assist the neighbouring midwives.

A blue plaque was later erected on the front of both buildings at 61 and 62 Kent Road in 2017.

Mr Brownley said it was "amazing" to find out their home had a connection with "Swindon’s famous blonde bombshell".

"The heritage people came here, they put up flags around the house and they arranged a full on-day," said Mrs Brownley.

"There were a lot of people here, well over 100 people," she added.

The couple said people now come and visit the blue plaque, with many having their photographs taken with it in the background.

A statue of Diana Dors is situated at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park in west Swindon