Tributes have been paid to a faithful and long-standing member of the church congregations at Barnard Castle and Whorlton.
Jean Tallentire died on March 5 at Beaconsfield Care Home, in her hometown of Barnard Castle, aged 97.
She was a regular churchgoer until the final few weeks of her life and, for many years, played the church organ and sang in the choir.
Rev Canon Alec Harding, area dean of Barnard Castle, said: “Jean has been one of our most faithful and long-standing members of both the Barney and Whorlton congregations in the parish.
“She was one of the first people I met when Kim and I arrived at St Mary’s back in 2000. I would pick her up on a Sunday morning so that she could play the organ at the 9am service at St Mary’s, in Whorlton. The little village church held a special place in her heart.
“She was much loved by the congregation there and would support as many events as possible held in the village, not least the Harvest Festival which would see her buying up Morrison’s veg for the harvest auction and arriving at church with any number of her famous shopping bags.
“In these last years she has been brought to church at Barney each Sunday by her good friend Jean Moore. The ‘pair of Jeans’ would sit on the front row, ‘Little Jean’ just happy to be amongst friends and able to join in services right to the last. We’ll miss her.”
Jean Elizabeth Tallentire was born in Barnard Castle on January 15, 1929, to John and Mary Tallentire. Her father worked at Barnard Castle Auction Mart and the family lived on Vere Road until he took over a farm at East Shaws, Westwick, in the early 1930s.
Jean grew up at East Shaws with her brothers John, Joseph and Wilfred and her sister Gladys. One of her most memorable childhood memories was witnessing prime minister Sir Winston Churchill’s visit to Teesdale to witness army training manoeuvres at Whorlton Lido during World War Two.
Jean, who never married, worked for NEEB (the North-Eastern Electricity Board) in Barnard Castle and, latterly, in Darlington, and her interests included traveling and church-related activities as well as collecting antiques and socialising with her wide circle of friends.
When her father retired from farming she moved with her parents and eldest brother John to Montalbo Road, in Barnard Castle, where she lived until her mother’s death in 1987.
Jean then made the short move to Woodbine House, on Galgate, where she stayed until moving into the Beaconsfield Care Home three years ago.
In addition to the church, Jean loved nothing more than spending time with her ten nephews and nieces during their childhoods.
“Auntie Jean was very hands-on when we were growing up,” recalls her nephew Philip Tallentire. “I remember her regularly taking us to Whorlton Lido on Sunday afternoons in the summer and for picnics in Flatts Wood.
“She would even take two or three of us for short holidays in Scarborough on the train every summer, which was a real treat.”
In addition to her nephews and nieces, Jean had 25 great-nephews and nieces, and 11 great-great nephews and nieces!
Jean and her four siblings all lived into their 90s and she is survived by her younger brother Wilfred.
Her funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church, Whorlton, on Tuesday, April 7, at 11am, with refreshments in the village hall afterwards.
