MARY SYLVIA JACKSON 1923 – 2010
The funeral took place on Wednesday, 14th April of Mrs Mary Jackson in the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul , Foxearth. Mrs Jackson died on 31st March after several months of illness in hospital. The church was absolutely full with many standing in recognition of a lady well-known and loved in the area for her friendliness and passionate interest in farming and village life.
The service was conducted by the Team Rector, Rev. Eoin Buchanan. There were some rousing and favourite hymns and readings were contributed by grandsons Tom, Robert and Andrew.
In a tribute by daughter-in-law Rosemarie, we were told of Mary’s early life as the only daughter of Cavendish bakers Edith and Henry Creane. However she had four brothers so as she grew she was no stranger to the domestic side of family life! Mary’s introduction to cooking was to serve her well throughout her life as her fabulous sponges were greatly sought after for the cake stalls at local fetes. She was keenly interested in sport including horse-racing and she excelled at tennis – a talent that she passed on to daughter Liz and granddaughters Sally and Caroline. Mary was musical and played the organ at Cavendish church and for the Sunday school. In the 1940s there was a young farmer called Bob Jackson who used to deliver milk in Cavendish and Mary claimed that his whistling always woke her up as he passed the cottages. The two met through what proved to be a happy accident as Bob knocked her off her bicycle as she was delivering cakes but forgiveness was clearly in the air as they became friends and married in 1946 moving then to Red House farm in Foxearth. Mary became a typical farmer’s wife, caring for Bob and his workers, curing hams, making butter and developing her legendary cooking skills. She was devoted to Bob (who all through their married life took her a cup of tea in bed each morning) her children Liz and David and to her six grandchildren and five great grandchildren and was an avid letter writer keeping in touch with relatives overseas as the years went by. Many local people will remember with great fondness the welcome that always awaited them at Red House whether they came as carol singers, charity collectors or were just being neighbourly. We shall of course miss Mary but will remember her with great affection and gratitude for the enriching experience that her presence brought to us. To Bob and the family we express our most sincere condolences in their loss.
Ken Nice