She met the 49-year-old charity executive Mark Bignell seven years ago when he took over her mother's job running the Devon drugs and alcohol charity Hamoaze House. Her mother Roma introduced them but never expected them to fall in love.
'I thought it would be sad if I didn’t have a cuddle with somebody again … but I didn’t need to live vicariously through a man'
Speaking about how she felt after seperating from her husband, Dawn, 55, told a British magazine "I 100% thought I would be on my own – but that didn’t bother me. I was enjoying having time to myself”.
“I thought it would be sad if I didn’t have a cuddle with somebody again … but I didn’t need to live vicariously through a man and I didn’t need a knight in shining armour, I’m not sentimental like that. And then of course that is when I met him, just a couple of days later.”
And after realising she had feelings for Mark, Dawn says she received a “massive approval” from her mother who sadly fell ill and died this year. Dawn explained that her mum was “absolutely delighted” they were together.
Her new book ‘Oh Dear Silva’ is dedicated to the man who she affectionately calls ‘Biggy’. As for his second name – My Anchor My True Love – she says it describes everything he’s given her.
“I think it’s very hard to be an anchor for me because I’m independent and I think I know what’s best for me. But quite gently and carefully, Biggs has supported me enormously and I’ve suddenly realised what an enormous gift that is.
“I feel like I'm at the most remarkable stage of my life … Other than my memory being a bit woolly and my knees being a bit creaky, I don't really think there's anything I can't do.”
'It’s a separate chapter of my life – a new beginning'
Amongst the happiness she wanted to stress: “I have absolutely no regrets about my amazing, long marriage to Lenny.
“This is an entirely different thing. It’s a separate chapter of my life – a new beginning.”
Dawn and Lenny split in 2010 after 25 years of marriage.