Jean Sykes

Jean Sykes (1930-2018) was born in Shipley, the middle child of Eva and Charles Sutcliffe. She grew up with her older sister Peggy and younger brother Peter. Jean left school at fourteen and went to work as a seamstress at the Meldina factory in Shipley. Jean did what she could to help her mum, and to look after her brother, after her father died on her 16th birthday. Jean was married to Donald in 1956. Their daughter, Jackie, was born in 1963. Jean gave up work once she got married and was very happy in her role as housewife and mum. She later got a part-time job at Rawthorpe Junior School as a Playground Supervisor, where she worked for twenty years. After 50 years of marriage, Donald died in 2006. Jean continued to live on her own until she suffered a stroke in 2018. After leaving hospital, she moved to Astley Grange Care Home, where Jean spent her final days comfortable and content.