As most of you know, Jean had a great interest and passion for the Twin-Town relationship between Haddington and Aubigny sur Nere in the beautiful French Loire valley.
Jean was a vital contributor to twinning for many years. As in other local groups and organisations she gave help, support and valued advice generously and always with great enthusiasm. A woman of great conviction, she put her views forward effectively but always with great respect and warmth. Her formidable teacher voice and ” Look ” was only a weapon of last resort.
She eagerly promoted the unique connection with Aubigny, producing several fabulous exhibitions for community events, giving many presentations to schools and local groups and helping with all the fundraising ventures over the years. Jean also demonstrated her fine musical talents whenever the opportunity arose.
Jean visited Aubigny many times during the annual Fetes Franco Ecossaise, becoming a well known face in the French town. She was hosted there by her friend Madame Therese Laroche-Smolenski, and latterly with Madame Christiane Morice whom some of you know very well.
Jean was also a warm and friendly host to many guests from Aubigny into her home who were participating in the regular exchange programme with Knox Academy. Jean had very much a ” chez moi, chez toi” approach, and she was a really fascinating woman to be with. More impotantly she was deeply interested in the students and what they were planning to do.
We all benefited from Jean’s wide knowledge of the history of Haddington and its ancient links with Aubigny. Being an expert on the history of Haddington Twinning Association, she knew of Madame Helen Stuart-Stevenson who hailed from a well connected Glasgow family and who, following a visit to Aubigny in the early 60’s , had been struck with the long history of the two towns that she suggested the idea of a twinning link to the Town Council officials in Haddington.
With this in mind, in 2009, Jean decided to track down Madame Stuart Stevenson’s grandson to invite him to Haddington to attend the 45th Anniversary celebrations of the Twinning with Aubigny . And he did attend …. travelling all the way from Washington State in the U.S. Jean’s wily powers of persuasion and cajoling having done the trick !
I asked Jean’s other twinning friends if they had any memories or stories of Jean that they’d like me to share with you, and one memory that was mentioned several times occurred during a group visit to Aubigny a few years ago.
As part of the programme, we went on a bus trip to Chateau de Guedelon, a 13th century castle in Burgundy. After a super day we all got back on the bus, a roll call was carried out …..Yes all on the bus, so off we headed. It was only 2/3rd of the way back to Aubigny when somebody said ” where’s Jean? ” The dawned the realisation she was still at Guedelon !! The roll call had somewhat gone awry!
Now, anyone who knows Jean will understand that roll calls were second nature to her…. as a primary school teacher and as a Cub Scout leader she would have done quite a few in her time! I’m sure we can all probably hear Jean’s voice and words on discovering that the bus had gone without her!
Anyhow, it was too late to turn back, but a taxi was organised and Jean arrived back in Aubigny in time for the soiree that night, none thw worse for the adventure and remarkably calm despite being left at a mock medieval camp in the middle of nowhere in a foreign land. A woman of pragmatism, resilience and just good common sense.
As Carol who recalls of the day put it…. ” As always she just kept the heid” Jean was reminded of this event on many occasions but she always laughed about it. Irene, Wyn and Carol and few others all recalled this story and we can still have a laugh at it yet.
June, another of Jean’s friends in the Twinning Association , told us about visiting jean in hospital at the end of last year. Although weak and not very well, she was still able to proffer a frank opinion on the hospital food! Again we can all probably hear Jean’s words ringing in our ears!
To finish this short account of Jean and her twinning adventures I’d like to read a couple of brief messages from her friends in Aubigny.
Martine Destenav, Secretary of Aubigny Twinning Committee : ” Quelle triste nouvelle. Je connaissais tres bien Jean. Je l’aimais beaucoup… lors de mon premier voyage a Haddington j’avais passe une journee libre avec elle a Edimbourg. J’aurai une pensee pour elle lundi. J’allumerai une bougie en son honneur.
and a message from Aubigny Twinning Committee :
” C’est avec beaucoup de tristesse que le Comite de Jumelage Aubigny – Haddington a appris le deces de Jean. Elle etait tres appreciee au sein du comite et nous la remercions pour tout ce qu’elle a fait pour le jumelage. Nous adressons nos sinceres condoleances a sa famille”
This really only scratches the surface of Jean’s contribution to Haddington Twinning. She was an outstanding woman in so many ways. We will miss Jean as a mainstay of our twinning group – for her warmth, wisdom and enthusiasm – but we will miss her as a dear friend.
Written and read at Jean’s funeral by Mrs Elaine Wilson – Secretary of Haddington Twinning.