Janet Bailey (13 Apr 1942 - 14 Mar 2024)

Janet was born on 13th April 1942 at home in Garboldisham (‘Garr-bol-sham’), she was the only child of Flossie and Fred.
She grew up with her grandparents and other family around her on the farm where her dad worked.
Janet went to Garboldisham primary school then passed her 11+ so went to Thetford grammar school for Girls, this involved taxis and steam trains where they got up to mischief taking out fuses and letting off fire extinguishers! Janet was a bright pupil but lost interest after a year and dawdled through her education.
Janet and Jim met at an early age and got together in their teens, they dated on and off when Jim was in the Navy and when he went to Australia and New Zealand Janet sent him a “Dear John” letter basically breaking it off, but she soon realised her mistake when he came home on leave on 28th May 1960 and they got engaged that Christmas. They were married at Garboldisham church on 7th July 1962. They went to Bournemouth on honeymoon and had a trip to the Isle of Wight. Jim then went away again and Janet settled into life with friends at work. Jim could be away for up to a year at a time and wives and family were not allowed, so it was hard knowing they wouldn’t see each other for so long. Of course this was pre-internet and mobile phones.
Janet worked for the Tax Office from 1959 for 10 years and lodged with her mum’s cousin as Janet always suffered with travel sickness and couldn’t cope with the 25 mile bus journey. She enjoyed living with Marjorie and Alan, they were so close in fact, that Alan gave Janet away at her wedding as Janet’s dad had passed away. Janet went home at weekends and most Saturday nights went out with her lifelong friend Jackie who she met around age 14. They would cycle to the village hall dances trying to keep their big skirts and petticoats clean!
When Janet started work at the Tax Office there were 6 friends between two branches which made a good crowd to go out to the Civil service club, play tennis and table tennis. When away at the training centre in Edgeware they even got tickets to see Cliff Richard at the Palladium, 3 rows from the front!
After 8 years of marriage, Lisa was born on 26 December 1969 at 03:45am, after Janet had enjoyed a Christmas Day in hospital getting spoilt! The ‘Love of their Lives’ as Janet puts it. Janet had an easy pregnancy and at 5 months even went for a week on board a ship Jim was on, which was a train to Southend then a speedboat – she’s no idea how she actually got on board the ship!
Janet was considered an older mum at 27 and she had to give up work as there were few nurseries, you stayed at home and cared for your baby, which Janet loved. Jim finished at sea a few months after Lisa was born – she was too precious to leave, as Janet put it!
Janet and Jim rented a flat in a big house on Thorpe Road, they also lived on St Stephens and Trafalgar Street, before getting a council property on Rosary Road in 1970 with lovely neighbours and a pub opposite for Jim! They ended up living there for 36 years and then had a bungalow in Old Catton which they loved.
Janet had a few part time jobs, including at Bayliss Wright doing the invoices and still had good friends from there who were such fun. She worked there for 10 years then went back to the Tax office in 1984 until she retired in 2002. There are so many friends which Janet kept in touch with after her working life, they all still met up and the number of birthday cards each year shows what a large circle of friends she has always had.
Janet and Jim had some good holidays in the UK, Janet’s favourite was Devon and Cornwall although they still laugh about their first ‘touring’ holiday in a VW Caravanette! First to Yorkshire, the Pennines and Blackpool, it poured non-stop, but they did manage to dance in the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, which if you are a Strictly come dancing fan like Janet, you will have seen this spectacular place. There were also holidays to London and lunch in the revolving BT Tower restaurant with an expensive bottle of wine! It was probably Liebfraumilch or blue nun! Janet also liked Cinzano & lemonade and Matteus rosé wine, the photos from the many holidays to Majorca with Lisa & Fred showed tables full of various consumption!
Then in 2000 Janet and Jim took Lisa and Fred to get married in Barbados, along with their best friends. It was the oldies skinny dipping in the pool at nighttime not the youngsters! It was a brilliant wedding and holiday.
After Janet retired she was always getting the bus into the city to meet her friends; Jackie, Ann, Liz and others for coffees and lunches…and shopping of course! She also belonged to Flower arranging clubs, knitting clubs and was a volunteer for Chatterbox, the talking newspaper. She was literally out every day and kept Sundays for Jim so they could go to garden centres and have lunches out.
It wasn’t until her 70’s that Janet was ill and had chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy, but never downbeat, just a chirpy attitude and special cakes she called ‘chemo cakes’ which Lisa took with them to every treatment.
After the illness returned in 2020 Janet still made the most of life, from celebrating her 80th birthday after Jim’s and their diamond wedding anniversary when they received a card from our late Queen while she was still alive and she was even wearing blue so that’s in a frame - Janet was so thrilled!
Janet certainly made the most of every day even when less mobile, her friends came to visit her at home and Lisa took her in a wheelchair to meet friends for lunches and garden centre outings. She also loved seeing Alfie the dog and throwing his bones the wrong way, ending up behind curtains and under sofas.
Then last year Janet’s ‘good’ leg broke, major surgery inserted a metal rod and again Janet bounced back. Because of the lack of mobility she had the most lovely team of girls looking after her daily from Cavell care company.
I’m sure you will all remember Janet as always happy, smiling and laughing about something or texting the wrong person and she was an utterly devoted wife to Jim.
In fact a note from Janet reads; “Jim, There is only one real love in a lifetime, only one that matters, that grows and that lasts forever – in life – in death, together as one sweet love, you are mine, my one and only, Love Forever Janet”.
And Janet asks that we don’t remember her with sadness, as she had a “Great life”.
A cherished and happy life, well lived.