Jean Morrison’s parents were Montague and Jessie Haynes. Her sister was my mother,  Pauline Walton. She was born on 12th April 1912 in Lyminge,Kent, which, being close to Dover and Folkestone, I assume was convenient for her father who was based in the Channel ports in WW1. The family moved to 224 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells in 1919.

Very little is recorded about her early years. I know she was a school teacher most of her working life. She looked after my brother, David Walton, who was born in December 1941, for his mother, Pauline, who was still working in London in WW2. She married Gilbert Morrison on 4th September 1943. In the early 1950’s they lived in Victoria Road, Bushey but moved in 1956 to Priory Cottage, Bratton, Wiltshire where she lived for the rest of her life.

David and I spent several holidays there whilst our parents were abroad in India. Priory Cottage was in a beautiful location on a hillside. However, if ever a house should have featured on a ‘DIY SOS’ type programme that was it. For several years it had an Elsan toilet in a ‘sentry box’ shed in the back which had to be emptied every weekend in the pit in the garden. We all rejoiced when a flush loo was finally installed! The kitchen had an earth floor which was finally concreted over but Jean and Gilbert could never see why people wanted fitted kitchens with gadgets. My mother, Pauline,  used to think it was safer to bring a picnic when she took us to see Jean!

Jean was a passionate local and family historian and we have her to thank for virtually all the photos and information on this website.