Jacqueline Ann Dyson (17 Jul 1926 - 29 Mar 2026)

Jackie passed away peacefully in her sleep on 29th March, Palm Sunday. She had a long and eventful life which she lived to the full, with a focus on her family, her community and her church. As a child she experienced the worst of the war years, losing her father and her home, but she had her devoted mother Dorothy and her extensive extended family; she was always surrounded by, and will be remembered with love. Her early losses meant family was central to her life - Geoff was truly the love of her life, and as her dementia progressed her whispered mantra was often ‘Geoffrey, Geoffrey’. Anyone who knew Jackie knows what Keycol House meant to her, what it represented as a focal point for family and friends, as Amanda, Hilary and Peter were growing up, then for their children. Her joy in her family continued after she moved to Scotland to live with Hilary. To see her face light up when family visited from down South – or further afield! – was wonderful. And in the last year she had the joy of celebrating her 90th birthday and the sheer delight of meeting her great-grandchildren.

Throughout her life Jackie was a dedicated member of the Scouting movement, starting as an assistant Cub Leader in Plymouth in the 1950s, and continuing through as Akela and being Group Scout Leader of 1st Newington until she retired.

Jackie and Geoff were active members of the congregation at Newington Church, supporting it in many ways.They both took up bell ringing in the 1980s and Jackie was Tower Captain at Newington Church for many years.

In everything she did Jackie showed her commitment to education and training, both as a teacher and also through her involvement with the Scouts and the Church. She loved music, and was always supportive of giving young people opportunities which they might not otherwise have had.

We shall be forever grateful to everyone at Henderson House Care Home for the love and care they showed to her – and to us, her family – over the last two years. Her health may have declined but her spirit certainly didn’t!

The funeral service will be held at Newington Church at 2pm on Thursday 23rd April, followed by cremation at Bobbing Crematorium after which everyone is invited back to Newington Village Hall. We invite everyone to join us in what will be a celebration of a long life, well-lived.