Thank you Jean

After thirty years of being an important player in the Kibworth & District Chronicle team, Jean Emeny has decided to retire.

Though saddened by this, we are all grateful for the dedication, hard work and intelligence Jean has brought to the various positions she has filled.

Jean was first involved in January 1991 in lay-up. She went along to a management meeting to see what helping meant and by May was on the committee.

Corral Sutherland then twisted her arm to prepare the adverts for the January 1992 map of Kibworth, and from February 1992 to January 1997, Jean was advertising manager.

The adverts were created using WordPerfect on a Mac Classic. On stepping down from this role she was presented with a book by Evelyn Cheeseman, “purchased through the internet!”

For a while Jean was editorial assistant to Roger Garratt, the then editor.

Pre lay-up at Roger Garratt’s house was fun, checking planning applications with Peter Knott and consulting Pevsner for the position of the comma in names like King’s Norton. The summer pre lay-up at Sulby in Isabel Cullem’s kitchen was also a pleasure.

In March 2002 the team planted trees at Rutland Water in memory of Mark Whitcher and subsequently returned for bramble bashing.

From October 2000 until 2020 Jean compiled the Noticeboard which shows dates of forthcoming events and normally appears on the back of the Chronicle.

This was particularly enjoyable when contacting the contributors. Jean also at this time was helping at Saturday editing, Lay-up Sunday and proof reading too.

From time to time she contributed articles on topics such as India, Japan, entomologist Evelyn Cheeseman, Dennis Clarke and the reinterment of Richard III. She also researched and wrote articles on life in the Chronicle area during the 1914-1918 war. Reading the letters in Ayelsbury Records Office of Florence Fremantle who ran Wistow VAD hospital, was very moving.

Jean completed her time as Vice Chair from 2003 to 2019, succeeding Stephen Poyzer as Chair in summer 2019.

A truly impressive contribution to the Chronicle and the community.

Thank you so much Jean. We wish you well in your ‘retirement’.