2nd January 1939 – 20th December 2022
Jackie (Jacqueline) Roe died after a short illness in UCL Hospital on 20 December 2022. She had no close relatives and her funeral was organised by two of her second cousins, the Revd. Rachel Phillips and her sister Miss Pat Phillips. The service took place in St Bartholomew the Less, at Jackie’s request, on January 30th, 2023. Father Marcus Walker, Rector, officiated at the service and a tribute was read by Miss Pat Phillips.
The Church was filled to capacity with her relatives and friends who had come with their prayers and memories of Jackie’s long and very full life. The reading and hymns of the intercessions evoked in us all a feeling of love and thankfulness for what she had meant to us in so many different ways.
After the service Jackie requested that there would be a ‘wake’ in one of the smaller rooms in the North Wing.
It was actually held in the Great Hall to accommodate all the mourners. She would have been surprised but delighted! Sir Marcus Setchell gave a very moving tribute to her memory, and we all raised our glasses of bubbles and fizz in a toast to her memory.
On leaving we were all presented with a yellow flower.
Jackie became a member of the Guild in 1989 and was elected Hon. Secretary in 1998 and served until 2007. Her knowledge of Barts personnel and history was an invaluable asset, and she was well known throughout the hospital. She served on the Guild Committee from 1998 until her death.
She had a very full professional life as both Secretary and Administrator from Monsanto Chemicals to Blue Circle Cement, and in 1970 as Secretary and later Administrator to the Dean (four in all) of Barts Medical College for over 26 years. When the Medical College merged with London Hospital Medical College and Queen Mary College, Jackie was able to take early retirement.
1996: Now she could indulge in a ‘life-long’ ambition: to travel! Starting in 1996, her global adventures’ first stop was Hong Kong where she broke her shoulder. She persevered and managed to get to San Francisco and across America. Then she flew to Australia and crossed the continent via Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne, flew back to Hong Kong and later to South Africa.
In 1997 Jackie worked as a Clerk in the House of Lords. And to pay for her travelling expenses, took in paying guests in her lovely home in Canonbury.
Jackie always said she loved Spain and the Spanish language, which she studied for many years, and thought she might have some Spanish blood in her ancestry.
Jackie loved entertaining at home and was an excellent cook. She also loved parties. She played bridge regularly each week in a local club – in the local pub. She was always very stylishly dressed and looked immaculate. She loved her home and garden and it was always such a pleasure to go and visit her for whatever reason.
Above all she was such fun! I will miss her company and her telephone calls – and I was always very impressed by her speed at completing each morning’s Sudoko challenge!
Thank you, Jackie. May you now rest in peace.
ANN WICKHAM
Barts Guild President