Cllr Jill Whitehead says: “We regret to report that Jean Raffe, Secretary of Friends of the Grove Park, the Friends of the Library in Carshalton (FROLIC) and the Fallen Angels drama group at the Charles Cryer Theatre has died suddenly in her 78th year. Jean was a former Head Teacher of Hackbridge Infants School and was a scion of the local community being involved in lots of different groups, including the local Methodist church as well as all the Friends groups.
Jill says ” Jean was in at the very beginning of Friends of the Grove 20 years ago, and she was very diligent in ensuring the Grove was looking at its best. The Grove was the first park to receive the Green Flag award which it then received for the next (7?) years. Jean helped me in my role as a former Chair of Friends of the Grove, which I held for five years until 2010. The last time I saw Jean was at the borough wide Friends of Parks groups on Thursday 20th March. There she reported on the AGM of FoG to be held on Saturday 29th March (11am at the Bowling Club) and the new future for the Grove building which is to be taken on by the Sutton Centre for Voluntary Sector and the subject of a Heritage Lottery Fund bid.
Jill adds: “But Jean and I had another surprising thing in common – our Jewish ancestry. Jean’s father was Louis Raffe and he was born in Hull in 1903. He met Jean’s (non Jewish) mother Vera Middleton in London where they married in Bermondsey in 1936. Jean was also born in 1936. Louis Raffe’s parents were Hyman and Annie Raffe and he was a tailor who came to Hull from Poland in the late 19th century. I had family who also lived in Hull, and Jean and I surmised that it was quite possible they knew or had met each other, given the size and close knit nature of the Jewish community in Hull then. It is a small world and quite a coincidence.”
Cllr. Hamish Pollock says: “I met Jean and her mother in spring 1990 when I was first elected as a councillor and she was even then the headteacher I think of Hackbridge Infants School. She used to child-mind for me many times when my wife Jo died in 2007 and I was so very grateful. Jean was a true saint and a fine citizen of Carshalton. We shall truly miss her.”
Friends of The Grove relaxing by the Leoni Bridge with Jean standing in grey jacket
I knew Jean as I am a member of the Fallen Angels over 50’s drama workshop. I contacted Jean about 4 years ago as I had seen the poster for the workshop in a local shop. I went along to have a bash at the drama and I really enjoyed the experience. As I am interested in drama especially Shakespeare. I haven’t been to FA for awhile due to illness and I hadn’t seen Jean lately. I am very sorry to hear of her death recently. I did know she was involved in many other activities including the drama workshop. As this article has said she will be sorely missed by many people who knew her. She worked very hard over the years at the drama workshop to make it a success and her other interests which she also gave much of her time and effort to keep these organizations going.
Thanks for your kind comments, Carole.
We had a period of silence as we remembered Jean at our AGM of the Friends of The Grove Park, yesterday, 29th March. Jean truly had a heart of gold. We shall miss her so much in many ways.
All the best, Hamish
Thanks Hamish for your comment. I believe in giving credit where credits due. And Jean deserves my comments. I am glad you remembered Jean at Grove park yesterday.
best wishes
Carole Heath
I still miss Jean at the drama workshop it still doesn’t seem the same without her. I am still attending the sessions myself. We have a few new members hopefully we can get a few more people to join.
regards Carole H EATH
Dear Carole
I have done another website posting – about the bench commemorating Jean Raffe.
All the best
Hamish