We are very sorry to have to announce the death of Jean Willson OBE. An active and dedicated Cloudesley Trustee, Jean first became a co-opted member of the Cloudesley Board in 2019, and was appointed as a Deanery Synod Nominated Trustee in 2020.
Jean was a proud Islington resident, living within the same 300 yards in the Borough for almost her entire life. In the late 1960s, Jean campaigned with other local women for land to be used for an adventure playground, leading to the creation of the Martin Luther King Adventure Playground in Islington.
After her second daughter Victoria was born with profound learning disabilities in 1970, Jean co-founded the Tuberose Sclerosis Assocation. Jean became known locally and nationally as a dedicated campaigner and advocate for people with learning disabilities and their families. She served three terms as Chair of Islington-based organisation Centre 404, and went on to become its President from 2021.
Jean was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to people with learning disabilities and their families. In 2013, she was awarded the Freedom of the London Borough of Islington for improving the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities and their families.
After Victoria’s death in 2013, Jean became an active member of St Luke’s West Holloway. In recent years, Jean was instrumental in the development of the Victoria and Stuart Project, improving end of life care planning for people with learning disabilities.
Cloudesley was extremely fortunate to benefit from Jean’s knowledge, experience and energy as a Trustee, and she will be sadly missed by all at the charity. She will be remembered as a relentless campaigner for vulnerable people, never afraid to campaign or advocate on their behalf but also to offer support and guidance. Our thoughts are with Jean’s husband, Norman, and her older daughter, Tara.