Tower and Town, June 2021

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Family News

It’s with great sadness that the family of Jean Lightowler (nee Stokes) announce her death at the age of 94.

Jean was born in the Three Arrows public house in Bell Vue, Manchester, on March the 11th, 1927 where her parents were the landlords.

As a very young child she displayed a clear talent for dancing and, aged 8, won a scholarship to the Loreto ballet school in Southport. After 6 years of boarding at the Loreto, she was offered a scholarship to the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School in London, which subsequently became the Royal Ballet School. While still only 14, Jean moved to London where she attended ballet school during the day and worked as a seamstress in the wardrobe department of the full Ballet Company during the evenings. The year was 1942, the height of the Second World War.

After leaving ballet school Jean joined the Ballet Rambert for 3 years, before becoming a member of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company in 1946, which had just moved its base to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and would later become the Royal Ballet Company. Jean loved her dancing career during the post-war years, which is considered by many as ballet’s ‘golden era’, with Frederick Ashton as choreographer, and Margot Fonteyn, Robert Helpmann and Michael Soames as the company’s main dancers. Robert Helpmann was a particularly good friend of Jean’s. Following dance tours of Europe and the US, Jean left the ballet and began family life.

Jean became a loving mother to four children before embarking on a successful career as a fashion shop proprietor in Cheshire. She was also very active for many years as a choreographer for amateur youth productions. During her retirement, she resumed her seamstress skills to make highly sought-after ladies’ fabric bags, most of the proceeds from which she donated to East Cheshire hospice, near Manchester. Jean moved to Marlborough, a town that she loved, during 2014 to be near family. She was fully active and independent until she passed away. She also took full advantage of social media and other technologies to keep in close touch with her widely dispersed friends and large family. Jean leaves 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Patricia Doreen “Pat” Munson died on 10th April 2021. 

Her wholehearted involvement in Marlborough life included organizing the Cards for Good Causes in St. Peter’s Church. Over the many years that she did this over one million pounds was raised. She was an active member of Preshute Evening Group and Marlborough Floral Club of which she was Chairman in 1997. Additionally she was involved with the Marlborough Lions and supported her husband’s work with the club. Pat was the much loved wife of Ken and mother of sons, David and Steve. She had three grandchildren, Aimee, Hannah and Samuel.

Jessy Pomfret