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Jean was born in Ampleforth, on December 29 th 1923. When she was about 4 years old the family moved to the newly built Beech House, the house which continued throughout her life to be the family home.
She lived with her parents Frank and Hilda and her elder sister Eileen. There are many
photographs, unusual for those days, which show them smiling and enjoying each other’s
company.
Frank Thompson was a grocer and her mother a confectioner. They ran the family business
from the Red House buildings next door and Jean retained many of the records from this
time. .
Jean’s family worshipped at the Wesleyan Methodist Church on East End until its closure,
and then here at St Hilda’s. As an adult in London she and her sister often went to services
at Methodist Central Hall particularly enjoying sermons from an eminent theologian of the
day Leslie Weatherhead.
After attending the village school, in what is now the village hall, she then went to Queen
Anne’s Grammar school for girls in York. Jean excelled at school and in 1942 she went up
to St Anne’s College, Oxford, to read French. On the order of service there is a link to the
interview she gave in 2020 relating to women in Oxford and it is well worth a listen.
She said that she had no idea where the idea to go up to Oxford had come from. but recalled lining her dolls up to teach them saying that she was going to Oxford, showing the
determination in her character from an early age.
At that time St Anne’s did not have a residential college so the girls were boarded in college
houses. The first house she lived in was very formal with little chance for the chatter and
conversation Jean always enjoyed. However, the second year led to her living in another
college house in the beautiful area of North Oxford and it was here that she met many more people and formed some great friendships. One notable student she met was a certain Chemistry student called Margaret Roberts- more likely known to us as Margaret Thatcher.
During her time in Oxford students were expected to do some voluntary work and she and a friend thought there may be an opportunity to tend wounded soldiers on the wards of The Radcliffe Infirmary only to find themselves allocated to the steamy laundry where it was hot, noisy and no chance to chat!
Her recollections of dancing in the streets on VE day and the joy they felt were tempered
with her feelings of guilt of having had a privileged life in Oxford when many contemporaries had had such different experiences.
When at home, during holidays, she enjoyed tennis parties with friends including David
Goodman and others from Oswaldkirk. During the war years she recalled taking soup up to
those manning the searchlights on Beacon Bank.
After university she worked as a teacher, first at a small school in Caterham and then in
Troyes in France. Following this she spent 11 years teaching French at the Henrietta Barnett school in North London, becoming acting head teacher. Some of her pupils remained in touch with Jean throughout her life, acknowledging Jean’s care and continuing interest in her pupils.
Jean was appointed the Head Teacher of Ilford County High School for Girls in 1961. In 1977the school became Valentines High School a co-educational comprehensive school andJean managed those changes and remained head until August 1983. She retired a year earlier than expected to look after her mother back in Ampleforth, staying in touch with colleagues and students.
Some of her colleagues are here today and others have written their memories of Jean and they can be read in full after the service. Bob Baker became headteacher after Jean and found her to be helpful and informative as he took over the reins of the school.
Adrian may writes: I must have been one of Jean's last teaching appointments at valentines High School, before she retired> Interviewed in her old grammer school office, with its fireplace behind her desk, she was very polite, articulate and well dressed in a fashion from an earlier time.
Jean was retired for over 40 years but continued to divvide her time between Ampleforth and London. She kept her mind active enjoying the Arts, Msic and Museums of London, Oxford and York. Oxford remained an enduring part of her life and she often attended lectures and residential study weekends.
Jean was notable for her work with a charity linking schools in the Commonwealth, Jean continued to work for 20 years building up good relations with everyone, especially the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers. Jill , her colleague and friend, remembers attending garden parties with Jean at Buckingham Palace owing the invitation to them both due to the high respect in which jean was held.
Othe charity work Jean supported was the British legion Poppy appeal: selling poppies and collecting donations in her London Neighbourhood.
Jean remained articulate to the end and many of us will remember her speech at a village party for the late Queen's diamond jubillee. Her spech at her 100th bithday party referred to her carer and particularly Mary whom she described as being the closest she came to having a daughter. Mary has been caring and faithfully helpuing jean for many years along with Brian and many neighbours and friends.
She enjiyed regular visits from friend and relatives far and wide as well as locally, too numerous to list - but you know who you are... giving her a chance to converse and , as she left the house less and less, an opportunity to keep in touch with village life and the wider world.
Jean was fortunate in her last few years to have care from her team of local carers which gradually increased to 24 hour care over the last couple of years. Carers became freinds and they supported jean to continue to live in her house and the village she called home. Jean so appreciated and was grateful for all they did for her and was always mindful of their needs.
Jean wished to die at home, a wish granted to her on January 10th, 12 days after her 102nd birthday.
From Jill and David Dilks
I need not say how sad we are to hear of Jean's death; it is a consolation toknow that she died in her own beloved home.
With reluctance, we have to say that the journey to Ampleforth would be more than we, in our later 80s, can now manage. If you would send us a copy of the Order of Service, we should be grateful.
Jill writes; For more than twenty years, Jean and I were associated in a small charity which linked schools in every part of the Commonwealth. Everything had to be done by old-fashioned correspondence and careful filing.
Although she had been a headmistress of acknowledged distinction, she tackled cheerfully all the humdrum tasks as well as the more significant ones; when a link failed, she would seek patiently for the cause and then propose an alternative. Why don't we ask that school in Delhi which has been waiting she might say; and off would go a persuasive letter.
She built up the friendliest relations with everyone and especially with the staff of the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers, which found space for us in its office. The two of us had the honour of attending more thanone Garden Party at Buckingham Palace; at an evening reception there, Jean answered in her calm, quiet, confident way questions from Her late Majesty concerning the education of women in Pakistan. We attended together the party marking the Queen Mother's 100th birthday, in each of these instance owing the invitation to the high respect in which Jean was held. In sum, she set an example to be treasured.
You have the satisfaction of knowing how appreciative Jean was of the care she received, and of which she spoke to us.
With kind regards,
David Dilks.
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