Over 50 years ago I accepted a new teaching post at Woodside School for Children with mild to moderate learning difficulties. I went in the late summer holiday to prepare the classroom, and met Jean on the second floor. She was a bit booming in voice and a bit larger than life, but instantly likeable and comfortable to be with.
She had a young daughter, as did I, and no partner. It promised well, especially when we found Hazel, also a single mum with a young daughter. Then we all had to move out of the building because of cement problems.
Later came the shock of her breast cancer and I couldn’t believe how anyone could be so cheerful and positive and courageous in the face of ‘death’ as I understood it. We feared for her and Antoinette, but she continuously made us all laugh about her falsies and the treatment and we could only admire her immense courage.
Then there followed occasional invites for me to join the Friday evening dinners with Hazel, Kath and Corinne. Those evenings were full of laughter, good food, catch up chats and of course booze.
Got to know her a little better over the past twenty odd years. She was such an adventurer who grabbed life to the full and was always encouraging to others to be the same. Nothing seemed to faze her, being any kind of illness, family problem, holiday, skiing, stripping off on French beaches, etc etc, yet at the same time she was quite private about her own inner feelings.
Her loyalty to her family and friends was very deep and she gave of herself to many good causes and to the children she taught. Even in her seventies and eighties she found new ways of being social and enthusiastic, and very accepting of other peoples foibles.
Recent years saw us sharing some fish and chip lunches, and wine, at our house, where Jean would surreptitiously and unstoppably feed a fair bit of her lunch to Smudge, our dog. She might have pink or orange hair, and dressed quite flamboyantly, but deliberately encouraged others to hold centre stage. A fearless driver either in a car or on her motor scooter. She would have a go at anything and it was always such fun.
We thought she was indestructible and loved her for it. Sleep well Jean. We will miss you.
Val
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