Jean still working for her town in 80th year
MORE than 20 years after suffering a near-fatal brain haemorrhage, a Wear Valley stalwart is still fighting for her community to have a voice.Chairman of the Crook Town Council steering group Jean Cowing will celebrate her 80th birthday tomorrow (Saturday) but insists she is as passionate as ever about her work in the community. Jean, who was secretary of the league of hospital friends for 35 years and is a member of the Wear Valley customer panel, said: “I was raised properly and my father always told me to look after other people as one day I might need looking after myself.
“It is a good message which I have passed on to all my children and I always tell them to be honest and they’ll be respected. I respect authority but will always have my say. If I feel passionate about something then I will speak my mind, although only if I know about it. I wish more people would speak out and say what they really feel about things.”
Jean’s children have all followed her lead and work in a variety of caring roles. Jean’s eldest daughter Linda was recently awarded an MBE for services to children in Tow Law, while son Brian works for the Scottish SPCA looking after sick and injured animals. Youngest daughter Ruth is a registered nurse in Newcastle.
Jean was born and raised in Crook, and apart from several years spent becoming a nursery nurse in Leeds and as a nanny in London, she has lived in the Crook area residing in Roddymoor, Stanley Crook and the town itself.
She was baptised at the St Andrew’s Methodist church and is still an active member of the congregation since it became the St Andrew’s Dawson Street Methodist and Unite Reformed Church. When she was 10 she was in the choir, and Jean says she hopes people will always remember how lovely her voice was.
Jean, who has also served as a magistrate at Bishop Auckland where she earnt the nickname the “hanging judge” said: “I sill sing to myself but can no longer hit the high notes so I don’t do it in public “I always loved singing though and was told I had a wonderful voice.” Her charity work started when she was only eight-years-old when Jean would make lavender bags for the Red Cross and collect hard-boiled eggs for the hospital. Jean said: “I got the bug for helping people and have never stopped.”
When she was 58, Jean suffered a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage and was told it could be fatal. Jean said: “I felt a ping, followed a bit later by a band of pain which made my head feel like it was going to explode. Really, I shouldn’t be here to day but I’ve always been plain awkward.
I remember the silliest things, like worrying about not having my slippers on when they took me outside to the ambulance, and not being able to get my key in my front door.” The haemorrhage ended Jean’s career in the Post Office savings department but her service to Crook never ceased.
Having founded the Town Twinning Association, of which she is now chairman, 31 years ago, Jean moved on to lead the Crook Town Council steering group.
Jean said: “When I was secretary of the league of hospital friends we fought hard to keep the community hospital open in Crook, but it closed several years ago and is now just stood their empty. That made me realise how important it is for Crook to have its own voice, and with the Unitary Authority set to start next year we need it as soon as possible.
“I don’t want to be ruled by the unitary and am not convinced that it is a good thing. There have been a lot of silly rumours going around about how much the town council will cost but the fact is we won’t know until it is set-up and the council itself decides. The accusation that councillors will be paid £10,000 a year is rubbish.
Jean says she won’t be involved with the council, and insists she just wants to make sure it is set-up.
Jean said: “Once the council is up and running then I will revert to the background. Yes, we need experienced councillors but we also need the younger generation to take control. It is no good if older people like me are in charge. I’ll still go to the meetings I am allowed to attend, and will just have to learn to keep my mouth shut.
Jean will celebrate her birthday with a tea-party for friends and family, and is going on a tour of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House with Linda in the summer.
Jean said: “When I look back I can see I have had a mixed life, and have a lot to show for what I’ve done. I’m not one to make a fuss of myself, though, and am far more interested in other people and what they are doing.”
