Jenny Kellaway MBE (7 Mar 1931 - 4 Apr 2018)

In loving memory of Jenny Kellaway who sadly passed away on 4th April 2018.

Never afraid to ask the difficult questions, Jenny was revered for her work in improving schools and standards for young people.

Jenny Chisman was born on March 7 1931 and raised in Bournemouth when the town was part of Hampshire with her sister Pamela and brother Michael.

During her childhood and teenage years she was a keen dancer. Jenny went on to work as a fashion buyer for Bealsons.

She met Stan Kellaway at the Four Seasons club in Bournemouth after she asked him to dance because it was ‘lady’s choice’. After discovering that Jenny regularly travelled to London for her work as a fashion buyer, Stan offered to take her out the next time she was in town. This he duly did, taking her to a posh restaurant in Chelsea.

There nearly wasn’t a second date after Jenny ate very little and Stan picked up a huge bill, but further dates ensued, which led to an engagement, before the couple married in 1961.

They moved to Poole into a house designed and built by Stan, who was a local architect, in North Road, Parkstone.

Together Jenny and Stan enjoyed travelling the world including America and Australia. After the birth of daughter Trina in January 1968, Jenny gave up work.

She first gained a taste for school policies as a parent governor. This was the first of six school governor roles, with the most recent being at Poole High School, where she also chaired the staffing committee. Jenny was awarded an MBE for her services to education in 2001.

In 1983, she became involved in local government after winning a Poole seat on Dorset County Council. The result required a recount and saw Jenny elected as Conservative councillor by just 22 votes claiming a seat that had largely been filled by Liberal candidates for the previous two decades.

During a nine-year stint with the authority, Jenny served on various committees including police, public protection and education.

Outspoken in her role, she was never afraid to highlight her concerns including voicing opposition to naming Bournemouth Polytechnic, which is now Bournemouth University, in 1990 and fears that rising violence was putting teenagers at risk.

At home, Trina said Jenny was always keen to host a party at the family home.

"She was definitely a ‘once met, never forgotten’ person who lived life to the full and did it her way," Trina said.

"She had an incredible energy and zest for life, and cared passionately about her family. She will be hugely missed but leaves an amazing legacy."

She continued to enjoy travelling the globe throughout her life and in recent weeks she was visiting Trina, son-in-law Paul and her grandchildren Martha and Joshua, who live in Hong Kong.

A thanksgiving service to celebrate Jenny Kellaway's life will be held at St. Peter’s Church, Parkstone, at 1.30pm on Thursday April 19, followed by a service at Poole Crematorium at 3.00pm.

In fitting with Jenny's wishes, everyone is asked to wear white or bright colours, no black. Family flowers only, but donations if wished, to Aim Community.

Obituary from Bournemouth Echo. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16158513.Obituary__Former_Dorset_County_Councillor_Jenny_Kellaway/?ref=rss