The many friends of Jean Phillips were deeply saddened to learn of her passing at the end of last year – she had been greatly embedded in so many Bloxham activities that her loss has been felt in many areas.

Jean was born in Bromley, only child of John and Grace Brearley, and apart from a brief evacuation during the war years, was brought up in London. She adored her father, who was a magician who famously performed at the Royal Variety Show in front of the Queen, and this shaped Jean’s lifelong love affair with the arts. With her mother she made many visits to the London theatre scene and after leaving school she studied drama at Rose Bruford, and briefly went into repertory theatre.

Teaching drama then became her passion, originally at Ashford School, and then moving to Richmond School in Yorkshire where she met John Phillips, then stationed at the nearby Catterick Barracks. Though his interest in cricket and rugby and hers in arts did not appear to match, they were soulmates for over 50 years.

When Jean and John married in 1958, they moved to Banbury, and then on to Newport, and she concentrated on looking after her children, Rachel and Mike before returning to teaching at primary schools, and coaching children in elocution.

In the late 70’s the family moved to Stoneleigh House in Bloxham where she threw herself into village life, as well as joining the Banbury Fine Arts Society and making frequent trips to the theatre at Stratford. She continued to teach at the primary school and taught reading to the travelling children at their site on the Milton Road. She also found time to join Line-Dancing classes.

Jean’s Christian faith was a guide throughout her life, and she attended St Mary’s Church for over 40 years, as well as doing an immense amount of voluntary work in Bloxham: helping to set up and run the Bloxham Museum, organising Cancer Relief collections, co-founding the Bloxham Broadsheet with Doreen Spring, joining the WI (where she ran the bookstall for many years). She worked at the Beacon Centre for the Homeless, was a guide at Broughton Castle, and was heavily involved with the Banbury Inner Wheel as well as supporting many other local charities.

Jean was very much a people person, always interested in everyone she met, whether family or friends. She cared for her mother Grace who came to live with her for 20 years, and was the sole carer for her husband John when she was already into her late 80’s. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and also absorbed John’s large family into her loving circle (he had 50 first cousins!), and as she loved entertaining, the house was often filled with family and friends.

Jean will be much missed by all, but as the poem by Christina Rossetti which was read at the service says: “Miss me, but let me go,