Jean Erica Jones was born at Oak Villas, Hangerberry in Lydbrook to Stan and Kate Meredith on the snowy night of 9th November 1925.
Kate wrote that Jean “was a beautiful baby and added to our happiness.”
From an early age Jean would request a clean dress every day – not easy in the 1920’s.
Jean was followed by brother Michael whom she adored. The family moved to Stowfield in May 1939.
Jean attended East Dean Grammar School and later joined Avery Hill Teacher Training College which, due to the war, had moved from London to Huddersfield. Jean was taken by car to Hereford Station by her father and brother to begin the long train journey north.
Subsequently she took up a post as an infant teacher at Lydbrook School during which time she met her future husband Bob, who also taught at the school.
From Lydbrook School Jean took up a position as Headmistress at English Bicknor Primary School. She had a gift with teaching and often thought she should have written children’s books as her pupils were so engrossed with the stories she read to them.
Jean and Bob married at Lydbrook Methodist Church on the 24th July 1948. They were a devoted and inseparable couple.
Soon after their marriage they built their first home “Cornerways” at Stowfield where both Erica and Nick were born and enjoyed many happy years there.
In 1969 they built their second house “The Patio” in Bridstow, Ross on Wye.
Jean once described herself as a home maker. She was a perfectionist in all that she did. She enjoyed dressmaking with crochet and knitting.
Jean produced amazing outfits and was always tastefully dressed. Her Grandfather Oliver Marshall was a Draper and Outfitter and this is perhaps where her impeccable dress sense and flair for design originated from.
Jean was a superb cook and hosted many wonderful dinner parties and “Simple Suppers” for their hotelier friends in the Ross area.
Any dishes less than perfect in her opinion would soon meet the waste disposal – unless Nick timed it right to intercept them!
Her desserts and cakes had a “wow” factor that no one else quite managed to match, but her recipes are cherished and live on with her granddaughters Molly and Emma who have both enjoyed many hours of baking with their grandmother.
Jean enjoyed regular trips to the Ross library and would always bring home cookery books with new recipes to try!
But you had to be on time for meals as Bob and Nick occasionally found out, lunch was at 1pm on a Saturday and not at 2 minutes past!
In the early 1970’s, Jean and Bob fell in love with Portugal, buying a second home in the Algarve where many family holidays were spent. Jean loved to dine out in the local restaurants.
By the late 1970’s they decided to build one more house in Bridstow called Heatherstone. This was their dream home. After Bob’s death in 1998, Jean was determined to stay there which she did until a few years ago.
After the marriage of Erica to David in the 1980’s great enjoyment was had with the arrival of grandsons Mark and Andrew. Then later with the marriage of Nick and Georgie along came granddaughters Molly and Emma.
Jean loved to spend time with her grandchildren, cooking and making crafts. She was extremely proud of all their achievements, however she had a way of letting everyone know when it was time to go…” I’m sure you have lots to get on with” was a cue to go home.
More recently there have been great grandchildren, Poppy, Frankie, Ben and Henry.
Jean loved her family and she had a very fulfilled life. We are here today to give thanks to God for Jean who was a lovely lady, loving wife, mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother and she will be greatly missed by all her family and by all who knew her Amen.