Gramophones to smart phones: a century well lived for Jean Rosemary

The year is 1926 and the world is still in a state of flux following the devastating effects of the First World War. The scars of conflict are still raw and yet there is a carefree spirit emerging from the darkness of the conflict and a glimmer of hope is in the air. It was against this backdrop that a baby girl was born to Gordon and Sarah-Jane Clarke. They named their precious daughter, Jean Rosemary and so she was welcomed into the world against this backdrop of cautious optimism.

Gordon and Sarah-Jane would eventually go on to have four more daughters. At the time I am fairly sure, they could have scarcely imagined that Jean would still be enjoying life 100 years later, having witnessed so much change in the world Jean’s epic journey has taken her from Ladbroke Grove in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, via Carshalton, Dagenham, Southend, Billericay and finally to Hamilton Court, the Masonic Housing Association’s, sheltered accommodation, in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, where she currently resides in her cosy flat, the place Jean now calls home.                                               

When Jean was born her family were living in London W10 where Jean’s father was employed as a hairdresser, whilst her mother, Sarah Jane, was a full time Mum caring for the 5 children. By the time Jean was old enough to go to school the family were living in Dagenham, Essex, via Carshalton in Surrey but Jean recalls spending a great deal of time with her grandparents during the summer holidays in Thorpe-le-Soken in Essex, a place she has many fond memories of. Her Grandmother, a good cook, encouraged Jean to bake and this initiated in Jean a passion for making cakes, a pastime she still enjoys today much to her family’s delight, particularly, chocolate orange drizzle cake.

Unfortunately, the optimism which prevailed at the time Jean was born was not to last and when the Second World War broke out, Jean was evacuated to live with her grandmother. When Jean was 17, she started work at Marconi's in Chelmsford, where she met her future husband, Arthur, electronics engineer whom she married in April 1944, and they went to live in Southend. Arthur and Jean subsequently re-located to Billericay, a home they were to enjoy together for many years and where they brought up their three children, a son and two daughters.

Sadly, Arthur passed away and after his untimely death at the age of 62, Jean’s life obviously changed but she recalls her fondness for their home where she remained and developed a passion for gardening. Jean recalls that there was a tremendous community spirit and neighbours were a tight knit, supportive community, “more like family than friends” Jean recalls. Jean also took up part time employment in the x-ray department at Billericay hospital, later moving on to work as an occupational therapist at Warley hospital. In total, Jean lived in the home she and Arthur initially created in Billericay for 60 years until the garden began to prove a little too much for her to manage and she was introduced to the sheltered accommodation at Hamilton Court, run by the Masonic Housing Association.

Jean readily admits that she was very sceptical about moving into Hamilton Court, having preconceived ideas as to what it would be like. On viewing however, she was extremely surprised to discover a cosy flat, her own front door, company if she desired it and an engaging atmosphere, were all very much to her liking. At any age, change can be a little frightening and even more so at 93 years old and you are leaving a home after so many years, but Jean says, “if I died tomorrow, at least I know I have lived for today,” and this has been her philosophy throughout her long life.

Jean feels that living at Hamilton Court captures exactly what the Masonic Housing Association stands for: compassion, community, and shared purpose. Remarkably, Jean still lives independently within the safety of Hamilton Court with just the aid of her ‘walker’ when going shopping but even at 100 years old, she never leaves home without her mobile phone, just in case she needs assistance.

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