Baron Ross Jones (12 May 1935 - 17 Dec 2020)

In loving memory of Baron Ross Jones who sadly passed away on 17th December 2020.

Baron was a very much-loved husband (for 55 years), father, grandfather, great grandfather, godfather, brother, brother in law, uncle and great uncle and a good friend to many. His family and his friends were the most important part of his life and he loved your company.

Ann, Claire, Rich, Chris and Anna have been comforted by the many touching cards they have received and words that friends have written about Baron and would like to thank everybody for their incredible support at this sad time.

It is sad that the pandemic prevents us sharing our stories of Baron after the service but if you are able to share some memories or photographs of Baron on this page we would be very grateful and we will enjoy reading them. We hope to find a time to celebrate Baron's life in the summer.

Baron always admired the work of the Gurkhas and contributed regularly to the Gurkha Welfare Trust, a charity that provides financial, medical and development aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and their communities. If you would like to make a donation to Baron's charity it can be done via the JustGiving link at the top of this page.

We wish you and your families well. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you in person soon.

With much love
Ann, Claire, Rich, Chris and Anna x

Baron's eulogy:
Baron was a very much-loved husband (for 55 years), father, grandfather, great grandfather, godfather, brother, brother in law, uncle and great uncle and a good friend to many. His family was the most important part of his life. He was never happier than when they were all together. They were very special times.

Ann and Baron had a wide circle of friends, many they met through sport. Baron enjoyed socialising and entertaining at home. He was an excellent and generous host.

Baron was born in Gravesend on 12th May 1935 to Freda and William Jones. His sister, Carol, was born nine years later. He went to Whitehill Primary School, which he said was the toughest in the area. He then passed his 11+ and went to Gravesend Grammar School from 1946-52. He left school at 17 and got a job as mail boy at Gravesend Council. He then became a Laboratory Assistant at Bowater Northfleet Paper Mill. Whilst there, he studied for several years part-time day release and evening classes to get the equivalent of a degree in Chemistry. It was very hard work and he said he wished he had worked harder at school. He was promoted to Mill Chemist and in 1972 Baron, Ann and Claire went to South Africa, where Bowaters were setting up a new Paper Mill. On return to the UK in 1973, he joined Bowater Research. Some years later he was employed in London at the Paper and Board Industries Federation. He became Director of the Paper Makers’ Association. At the age of 56, he left the Paper Industry and became a Technical Executive of the Wine and Spirit Association. He studied several wine and spirit courses and achieved a Diploma, just below Master of Wine. His job involved working with all the European Wine Committees, which he found really rewarding. He attended many conferences in UK and Europe and met many very nice and interesting people. On his retirement in 2000, he was awarded the honour of being made a Freeman of the City of London.

Baron had a happy childhood. He was a choirboy at Christ Church, Gravesend. Unfortunately, at the age of nine he had his legs pulled from under him in a swimming pool and the force of the water perforated both his eardrums, which was the beginning of his hearing difficulties. Baron’s interest in sport blossomed as he was growing up. He was Cross Country Champion at the Grammar School and spent many happy hours playing in the sportsfields opposite his house. There were three tennis clubs there and one day the Captain of one offered Baron and a friend two racquets to try. There began his tennis career. He joined the Club the next year and saved his two shilling and sixpence a week pocket money to buy his first racquet for £5. A string broke the first time he used it (Baron would tell you this was the middle string right in the middle of the racquet). He won the Club’s Singles title that year and the Gravesend Under 18 Singles title the following year. He joined the Bat and Ball Tennis Club, the strongest in the area, and was quickly spotted by the Captain, Ron Billings after Baron and his partner, Graham Russell, beat Ron and Stan Jeffery in the Club Final. This was the start of a long and special connection with family. Baron enjoyed many years playing with Ron on his house court and this continued with the next Billings generation at Corinthians Sports Club. Baron won local titles with Pam Butcher and Sandy Armitt. He played Kent League tennis for many years representing the Bat and Ball, Bowaters and Hartley Country Club. He also played hockey at Bowaters. When he retired from competitive matches he enjoyed social games with Ann and their friends. He had to stop playing following his hip replacement operation.

In 1960, Baron was preparing to enter a mixed tournament at the Bat and Ball Club when he saw a girl he didn't recognise walking across the field. It was Ann and it turned out they were drawn to partner each other in the tournament. The rest is history. Their first date was to Wimbledon.

Ann and Baron got engaged on Ann's 21st and were married in May 1964. They spent their honeymoon in the New Forest and the following weekend joined the Billings family at Niton Manor on the Isle of Wight, which became one of Baron's favourite places. He and Ann have been there every year since.
They moved into their Billings house in Hartley in September 1964. Baron played tennis with Ron in the evening while Doreen helped Ann move in.

Claire was born in December 1967. She has been a wonderful and much loved daughter. Baron and Ann couldn't be more proud of her. Baron enjoyed seeing her grow up, be successful at school, play sport and then go to University. Baron was a brilliant dad. He did everything he could to support Claire and her interests as she was growing up, from playing tennis with her to driving her to a multitude of swimming training sessions. Claire can’t quite recall Baron’s Olympic swimming career, so she would always be slightly frustrated that he could rarely resist offering his advice and analysis on her performance on the journey home. However, Baron’s support and encouragement gave Claire the foundation and confidence to work hard, which has enabled her to carve out a fulfilling career in teaching. Claire gave them a wonderful and much loved grandson in 1988. Baron felt privileged to have been such a big part of Chris's early life. Baron and Ann were delighted to welcome Rich into their lives in 1996. Claire and Rich's wedding was one of his happiest days. Rich has been a great support to Claire and Chris for which Baron was truly grateful. He and Ann couldn't have wished for a better son-in-law. Baron’s love for sport is shared by the whole family and so it is probably no co-incidence that Claire ended up being a PE teacher and also marrying one. Claire feels that there are many traits that the husband she chose shares with her dad. Claire would describe these as a wish to be left in peace when watching sport on the TV, a procrastination and low level of skill with DIY tasks and a penchant for the quiet life. Rich, however, believes that it was their shared good looks, wit and intelligence that are more significant.

Chris has been a wonderful and much loved grandson. Baron enjoyed watching him grow up and become very successful. He really appreciated Chris's regular phone calls. Baron was delighted when he met and married Anna. Again their wedding day was one of his happiest days. Baron and Ann were thrilled when a very special little boy, Jasper, was born in September 2018. Baron loved him to bits and the highlight of many days was watching his progress on WhatsApp calls, particularly during lockdown. Baron was looking forward to welcoming the next addition to their family in May.

Sport was one of the catalysts for the strong bond that Baron and Chris would cherish over the years with many conversations and discussions on the topic. Chris will always remember the days they spent playing sport whilst he was growing up, especially the rounds of golf at Corinthians, which were a regular occurrence.

Jasper was always drawn to Baron’s voice and laughter. Even from his earliest days, Jasper responded with a smile to the shout of “Jasper…..my friend” whenever they spoke. When Jasper was born, Baron said he was looking forward to playing ball games with him when he was bigger, something that they were able to do in the last year (incredibly, without breaking any windows), which will always be a loving memory for the rest of the family.

Baron’s family and friends will remember him as an armchair coach; always thinking he could do a better job than the current England or Chelsea managers and captains, for example. The family was always entertained by watching players’ fortunes change in front of their eyes, just moments after Baron had shared his opinion. One thing for sure was that if a result was nailed on and Baron had predicted this, the outcome would usually be the opposite. Baron’s love for classical music is something he will also be remembered for. He spent many hours listening to his music in the dining room, probably just to get some peace and quiet away from either Ann, Claire or Chris. His enjoyment of watching nature programs, Westerns or Bond films is also a strong memory. In addition, Claire recalls being educated in Zorro, Tarzan and the Dukes of Hazard as a young girl.

After retirement, Ann and Baron enjoyed some special and enjoyable holidays, both in the UK and abroad. Two of Baron's ambitions were to visit New Zealand and to see bison in Yellowstone Park in the USA. Both of which he achieved. Baron enjoyed playing golf at West Mailing, Corinthians and Redlibbets. He was hoping to play again following a cataract operation. After his competitive sporting days were over, Baron followed all sport on TV, particularly his favourite football team, Chelsea. Many people have remarked that they have memories of him avidly trying to solve the Telegraph cryptic crossword puzzle, which was one of his first tasks of the day.

Ann, Claire, Rich, Chris and Anna really appreciate the support they have received, and the many kind words spoken and written about Baron. A common theme being that he was a charming, gentle man with an excellent sense of humour. Baron always said that when you retire you maximise your time with family and friends and it is the best time of your life.