Jacky on the left with her partner Julie
Jacky has recently left a legacy to Quakers in Britain. The following story was composed of the observations of Jacky's Godson, Gavin, who spoke of his Godmother with warmth and love.
Gavin says of his Godmother Jacky that she was a wonderful, calm, thoughtful, caring person to whom others were drawn. She was a good listener and would give time and care to people; it didn’t matter to her what people's views were. She would still give them care and attention. Gavin believes that Jacky was drawn to Quakers because of the warm welcome she received in an environment of acceptance of difference.
Jacky was brought up a strict catholic by formidable parents. She attended St Martha's convent school in Barnet.
After leaving school, Jacky trained as a nurse for a year but then went to secretarial school. After secretarial school, Jacky worked as a secretary to the managing directors of several businesses and was also a salesperson for Xerox.
This undoubtedly stood her in good stead when she became the director of the large family farm in the 1980s.
Jacky was a visionary woman who opened and ran an organic farm shop on site and an organic café/restaurant in nearby Thaxted. Organic food was relatively new and revolutionary at this time. Despite success, sadly, due to the recession, she had to sell both the shop and the restaurant.
Jacky’s parents found it hard to acknowledge her life choices but she lived happily with her partner Julie, a psychologist and counsellor until Julie's sudden death in 1994. It is fair to say Jacky never fully recovered from Julie's death. Undoubtedly, the Quaker way of life aided her through this troubling time.
Jacky and Julie had a loving relationship and a good social life. They hosted weekend residential groups for women in the caring professions at their beautifully renovated thatched home in Little Bardfield. They had a touring caravan and enjoyed holidaying across the UK and abroad. While living in Little Bardfield, Jacky organised Village flower shows, barn dances, and street parties.
After Julie's death, Jacky moved to Suffolk for a time. However, she moved back to Essex in 2004, settling in Saffron Waldron, where she became an active community member. Gavin says that thanks to Jacky’s ease and warmth with people, she befriended all of her surrounding neighbours. Jacky was, however, reluctant to talk about herself and would always manage to turn the conversation away from herself.
Jacky loved gardening and cooking. She was interested in the holistic approach to living and was besotted with cats. Her last cat, Martha, is currently still alive and living with one of Jacky's friends.
Jacky was buried as she wished next to her partner Julie. She also had a Quaker funeral, which many Quakers and non-Quakers attended. Gavin says it was a lovely ceremony and a healing opportunity for extended members of Jacky’s family.