This site is a tribute to Miss Jean Mary McDonald, beloved sister, aunt, relative and friend. She is much loved and will always be remembered.

Miss Jean Mary McDonald was born in Dublin where she grew up, after which she moved to London. Jean was a member of The Ballet Association, English National Ballet and the London Ballet Circle, to which she was the secretary for a while. Jean was a flute player, sang in the Whitehall Choir and took horse riding lessons. Jean had also travelled to Greece and Spain. Within her career Jean had worked as a top secretary or PA for the manager at The Stafford Hotel, near St James's Palace and for the events manager at Alexandra Palace. In her retirement Jean moved to Ashby Grange in Wallington, living an active life, pursuing her many cultural interests in London, Dublin and around the UK. Her interests included being a member of the Georgian Society through which she enjoyed visiting grand houses and gardens. She was a National Trust Scotland member, attended horse, cat and flower shows, art exhibitions and followed dancers careers, booking up her calendar with ballets and shows to see throughout each year.

More about Jean can be read in the 'Order of Service'

Unfortunately in the last few years of her life Jean got Alzhiemers Disease, which was diagnosed in July 2020. Jean then, out of necessity, moved to a local residential care home in June 2021. Jean was fully mobile and enjoyed being taken for long walks, chatting, humming and also her music therapy. Jean was eating so well she put on much weight, while at the Brooklands Dementia wing of Ryelands care home. I took Jean for her usual long walk and chat on 16/10/2022. The next day on 17/10/2022 Jean went to St Helier hospital due to vomiting. While in hospital Jean suddenly developed aspiration pneumonia, difficulty breathing and then sadly died there on 22/10/2022.