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Mrs Jean E Savill

21 April 1929 - 27 August 2013

Jean Savill, nee Garland was the daughter of Star and Garter resident Reginald Garland who served for the Royal Navy in the 1st World War and the Royal Air Force in the 2nd World War, working latterly as a radio operator. Reg was a brilliant cricketer who matured from a tearaway fast bowler for Sneinton CC in Nottingham, modelling himself on Harold Larwood, into an excellent leg spin bowler (twice taking 10 wickets in a match for Ashford CC) and opening batsman. Following the untimely death of his wife Nancy, nee Pilbean, Reg spent the last five years of his life on Richmond Hill having been crippled by Multiple Sclerosis.

Jean visited Reg every Sunday, frequently accompanied by husband Peter, walking up the hill from the bus stop with their 3 children Mark, John and Catherine who were 14, 10 and 8 respectively when Reg died in his sleep in 1967. The children were deeply impressed by Jean’s dedication and by visits to the Home, which included meeting disabled RAF hero Douglas Bader, and participating in Christmas concerts. Inspired by experiences of the Royal Star and Garter Home, John subsequently became a Professor of Medicine and Catherine a Professor in Physiotherapy, their interest in healthcare being stimulated by the wonderful residents and staff that they met at the home.

Jean’s love of family and cricket lives on in the Savill family. She is fondly remembered also by relatives in the Beresford, Wilson and Sharp families, particularly by her grandchildren Jennifer, Thomas, Edward and Peter.

Jean attended Twickenham County Girl’s School, then lived and worked, as a school secretary, in Whitton for over 20 years before moving with husband Peter to Nottingham, Oxford, Birmingham and lastly Edinburgh in order to be close to her grandchildren. She touched the lives of everybody who met her, and was the loving heart of her family for the 62 years she was married to Peter.