Janet was wonderfully energetic and keen to be involved in all facets of our village life. I particularly appreciated her contribution to our Women's Institute (now sadly defunct.) She had an admirably positive attitude to life and carried others with her. I was always pleased to receive her handmade cards at Christmas. if you are able to arrange a celebration here in the Charltons at a later date I should very much like to attend. Christine Wellstead

Tribute to Janet Russell Baillie 28.02.1921 – 02.12.2020 Given at her funeral 04.01.2021 Imogen and I have many happy memories of Gran over recent years. We’ve been fortunate to be able to visit her on a regular basis since she moved to Braintree and then Foxholes. We visited numerous houses, gardens, churches, cathedrals, mills and barns together. She was good company as she was always enthusiastic, keen to learn and to ask questions. She loved a guided tour, and had a particularly successful one at St Albans cathedral where she bombarded the guide with questions about architecture, wall paintings, stained glass windows, religious practices. In the car she told us, frequently, how bends in the road had been determined by the turning circle of a team of oxen. Gran had a habit, for as long as I can remember, of asking first whether she had told a particular story, and when the answer was, ‘yes you have’, going ahead and telling it again in, yet further detail. She was game for anything. She didn’t hesitate before climbing the steep rickety ladder in the flour mill at Anglesey Abbey. I thought at the time that at 95 she may well have been the oldest person ever to do so. She was proud of her height and had a way of drawing herself up and saying, ‘I’m so tall’ even when all others in the room looked down on her. She would gamely take on all comers in back to back contests. At the same time, she was extremely flexible, and we marveled at her ability to seamlessly bend down to tighten her shoe laces (or on occasion shamelessly pick a flower or two in a national trust garden). She was at her happiest on a mobility scooter, and used to bomb up and down amongst flower gardens, vegetable patches, and along parkland tracks, and even at times ‘off road’. She had good posture, always wore a hat, gripped the handlebars firmly and had a rigid determination about her. There was a touching scene at Wimpole Hall, where a little girl and her mum, holding hands and beaming smiles, stepped to the left, so as to let Gran past. Gran accelerated towards them, shouting out ‘in this country we drive on the left, move over’. Gran always referred to Foxholes as ‘the prison’. We discovered the hard way that an invitation to join her there for lunch was not so much for the pleasure of one’s company, as to experience just how ‘awful’ it was. However, wherever we took her out for lunch (we’d spend hours researching options) Gran would invariably finish by saying, ‘thank you very much for the meal but I’m sorry to say it’s nowhere near as good as the chef serves at Foxholes. One time, returning to ‘the prison’, she had with her a tray of various heathers she’d bought at the garden centre. She went directly to the office, marched in, and presented them to Usha. To which Usha responded, ‘if this is a prison Mrs Baillie, why are you bringing us presents.’ That is one of the very few times I’ve ever seen Gran lost for words. More recently (pre Covid) Gran was increasingly content to stay with us in her room. Imogen had perfected tea making to Gran’s exacting standards, we had learned to bring garibaldis, not chocolate hobnobs. We looked at the McGavin family albums (holidays at the coast, Grandad relaxing on the beach in his suit). She loved talking about the past. What gave her the most pleasure, and pride, was the recollection of me and Andrew coming to live permanently with her. Arriving in Harrogate, bursting through the door and shouting, ‘we’re here Auntie Janet’. She had forgotten that we had stayed in Harrogate numerous times before. She had been a phenomenal support to our mum, always quick to offer help when Jeanette was ill or in hospital. Jeanette’s letters show the extent of her warmth and friendship for Janet, and make clear that in the event of her death it was Jeanette’s wish that we should live with the Baillies in Harrogate. My memories of Harrogate are entirely happy ones. The birthday parties, panic post, apple pie beds, go-karts known as bogies, the snow and ice and the igloo. The warm welcome we received from the whole family. And the frost on the inside of the windows. We’ve had some great Christmas visits from Gran in London. She was life and soul of the party, the centre of attention. She’d get tipsy on the elderflower presse. She was a pleasure to give presents to and the whole family enjoyed thinking of what to get for her. We have missed her this year, and indeed this past year. As a family we’re really going to miss her. It is a comfort to know that Gran died peacefully, amongst her treasured belongings, in the place she regarded as home. Robert (Bob) McGavin 04.01.2021 Son of Jeanette and Arnold McGavin. Janet was Arnold’s sister. She and Allan adopted Robert and Andrew in 1961, following the deaths of both their parents who each died of natural causes.

Gran had 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Along with my own, I am including memories of Gran from my cousins. Gran was adventurous and loved to travel: from abseiling with Christopher at the Calvert Trust; visiting Nick and Jeremy in Thailand and Barbados; joining Jenny, my mum and I on a driving trip to the Christmas Market in Koln; and I also remember meeting her in Denmark when I was living in Germany. She would also put on slideshows for the family, of the trips she and Grandpa took. All we remember is being shut in a dark room, sat on a concrete floor for what seemed like hours. Our childhood memories of Charlton Mackrell and later Charlton Adam include the smell of the dog biscuit factory, playing in the garden, the spiders, and meeting up with Auntie Isabella and Uncle Dennis. There were always jobs to do including slicing runner beans, fetching the ice cream from the garage, gardening and for Nick, cleaning the car. Nick stayed with Gran when David, Jenny and Jeremy were in Barbados and he went to school in Taunton. Apparently, they were always at school rather quickly as Gran liked to drive a bit fast. We always ate well on our visits and Gran was very proud of how fast she could make scones for unexpected visitors and she was also remembered for putting coins in the Christmas pudding. Tea and the tea cosy is another firm favourite of ours. In later years, the tea was required to be made to a specific strength and would be sent back if incorrect. The coffee also had to be very weak and it was easier to count out the grains of coffee to make sure it wasn't too strong. The colour of the sugar also had to be correct, white for tea and brown for coffee. There was always a milk jug and it was all generally served on a round tray. Gran and I did lots of visits over the years, (I was used to driving to Somerset from when I passed my test at 17) she loved to take a drive and explore. She told me, she was very proud when I joined Citizens Advice as she had been involved in the local one in Rugby. She remembered a much more hands on time. And she still admired it’s knowledge and caring ethos. Gran was known for always being well dressed, for her stories (including the bomb), her laughter and for playing in the garden with the great grandchildren. Gran was a very determined lady and she continued to do it her way right to the end. Rest in Peace Gran. Karen, granddaughter

Remembering Mum I started to write this remembrance in our garden in the winter sunshine. Mum liked to sit at the end of the garden near HER Apple Tree. It was her special place in our garden. When Mum was in her early 90s she was invited to Westminster Theological College along with my husband John and myself. Dad had been a student there. We discovered the beautiful arts and crafts building which needed work to update it for the 20th Century. We discovered that Dad had been the top student in his year - none of us ever knew that, including Mum. Eventually talking to the college personnel they liked the proposed plan to donate Dad’s handwritten sermons and present them to the colleges archives. At the same time Mum asked whether they would be interested in her life story as the wife of a Minister of Religion. As a Minister’s wife she was unpaid but expected to run the manse, manage on one lowly income, type minutes and provide endless tea and biscuits or scones. At 90 we asked you just in time to write your life story. Mum grew up in Cheam, Surrey. Her parents had a number of servants. Mum went to a posh girls school, did well at school, played piano with distinction, did well at school sports and was an excellent swimmer. We are astonished at how Mum’s life had so many different cultures to adjust to. At 18 just as she had passed her school higher certificate exams World War II broke out. Mum went to secretarial college and learned typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. She worked at an Accountants office in London near St Paul's. From there she was recruited to MI6. We knew none of this, as like many 90 year olds they only started to talk about the war very late in life. We have now found Somerset County Women’s Institute had published a book in 2005 entitled "What did you do in the war grandma?" which included her experiences. The book was published several years before we got Mum to write her life story. The war played a crucial part after Mum and Dad married. Dad was placed in Doncaster, his first ministry being to help with the conscientious objectors who had to work down the mines. The next church was Harrogate. By then Mum had three children who all enjoyed the 1950s freedom in a beautiful area. Andrew and Robert joined the family after their parents died young and were adopted. Leaving Harrogate after 16 happy years was a wrench. Rugby was next. The 1960s must have had a lot of social difficulties. Mum became an expert at defusing difficult visitor situations by providing her record-breaking scones and tea. Auntie Rennie came back from Canada, a widow and well on in years and had no home and became part of the family. Leicester was next, the move happening after the United Reformed Church was formed from the Presbyterians and Congregationalists joining together. Mum said this time was all marriages and deaths. Her diary about that move is astonishing. So many family events and problems and Dad discovering a church who didn't want him. During that time John and I and Christopher and Karen went to Houston for three years. While there we joined a church full of different nationalities and newly moved Americans in the oil and gas industry. The idea of the Minister and family swapping churches, homes, cars for three months became fact. Mum and Dad had a wonderful time and were very popular, which really raised their self-esteem. On return to the UK Mum had to cope with her ageing and ill parents and Dad had to cope with no support from the church authorities and the prospect of early retirement and reduced pension. In Somerset Mum and Dad had a happy retirement. Grandma Baillie came and lived with them for many ears. Dad was kept busy with invites to preach around their part of the county. After Dad died Mum had a long and truly comprehensive retirement. Mum showed enormous skills in painting, embroidery works, the local historical group and community work. She was at the heart of getting the community centre built, the millennium celebrations for the Charlton villages, was on the parish council and was part of the team producing the village plan. When Mum could no longer keep up with the necessary driving and household bills, she then enjoyed life at The Hawthorns in Clevedon, where she made special friends and enjoyed not having to cook for herself. After Christopher died she moved to be nearer us in The Hawthorns in Braintree where again she had company. Eventually Mum moved to Foxholes Care Home in Hitchin and had amazing staff who enjoyed Mum's feistiness and who helped us keep Mum safe as Covid presented a whole new set of life problems. As her sister Mary said, a life well done. Rest in Peace Mum. Ann, Daughter

I shall remember her in her prime - a strong-minded, very intelligent and caring person. Brian used to remember her as the elegant member of the Allan family. And the McGhie's remember her on a visit to Aberdeen. How many years ago now? Rhona Hurst

REMEMBERING MUM In these troubled Covid-19 Pandemic times, it was heartening to hear that Mum passed away peacefully in her own room and amongst her carers who have looked after her so well over the past few years. Covid spared her, to the great relief of us all! Mum and I had a strange mother to son relationship. In my early life I always considered myself to be the black sheep of the family, while she seemed to value my thoughts and suggestions, and especially so in her later years. Overall I think she could best be described as a life-long accomplished organizer and director. I am sure Dad could not have been the United Reform Church Minister that he was without her considerable administrative skills which she used so well within the church congregations they served in Doncaster, Harrogate, Leicester and Somerset. Indeed, we, her children, were all heavily influenced in this way by her, both at home and outside. Today I feel she truly taught me to be committed and outspoken at all times in my work in overseas development, a trait which served me well for 45 years as a worker and consultant in that sector. Even today this helps me enormously in my retirement hobby role as a regular Columnist in our local Sunday newspaper here in Bohol, Philippines. Mum lived a long and truly comprehensive retirement. To our delight, she showed enormous skills in her gardening, her embroidery work and her water-colour painting. We have a special wall at home here where we display all her paintings that she gave to us, and I still treasure all of her yearly water-colour Christmas cards which were a delight to receive and will be missed from here on. Reaching the family record age of ninety-nine and three quarters was a remarkable achievement. Had Mum lasted to 100, I would have been intrigued to see what HM The Queen would have said to her in her congratulatory letter. Mum didn’t get an MBE, but I am sure she was on the list of those under consideration! RIP Mum, your contributions to worldly life were great everywhere you lived it! Thanks for everything! Your oldest son, David McGavin Baillie

I am sorry to say goodbye to my sister. You brought up 5 children and later took care of our aunt, who returned from Canada when she was old and had no home in England to live in. At the same time you had many duties as a ministers wife. A life well done! Love from

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Janet. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.