In Welwyn Garden City, she was to become a second mum to as many of the local children as she possibly could! She loved all children and so volunteered to work as a teaching assistant in a school, for the pleasure of helping children learn to read.
Alan would often find her covered in children when he came to pick her up. All the local children knew exactly which door to knock on in the event of a minor disaster or emergency.
She also loved pets, particularly the family Siamese cats, Poodles and an Afghan dog.
She was an avid collector of dolls and Alan and Merlyn used to visit Florida for an extended holiday every year.
Merlyn was devastated by the death of her son Simon in 2007.
She was an intelligent, grammar school educated woman, whom Alan felt would have had a better career than he did, if the custom at the time of their marriage had not been that the wife was expected to give up work.
Merlyn with her father Edward Williams.