Sheena Ingram (17 Dec 1944 - 21 Dec 2019)

In loving memory of Jean Ingram who sadly passed away on 21st December 2019

Sheena was born on 17th December 1944, the youngest of three children including Billy and Alistair. Sheena was born at Western General but to her, and everyone else confusion, she was named Jean Hutchison on her birth certificate. Duncan was a Telephone Engineer with the Post Office and Bessie was a Shop Assistant at a Drapers.

Sheena recalls her childhood as being a happy one, and described her mother Bessie as round, cuddly, loving, giving and a wonderfully talented singer. She was loved by everyone who knew her. Her father, Duncan, she described as bald, thin and autocratic to his children, but loved them and his grandsons very much. He was very clever, finally becoming an engineer following a bursary to a senior secondary school. Sheena remembered receiving a guitar for Christmas and he, without ever playing one before, was able to pick it up and pay it. Unfortunately his musical ability was not passed down to his children.

At 7 years old the family moved from Sighthill to James Place at Leith Links. She attended Leith Links Primary school, followed by Leith Academy. Her memories of school included being given the belt for not being able to spell occasionally and necessary and in her memory book she spelt the word ‘necessary’ is spelt incorrectly, so the regukar beltings didn't have the desired outcome.

Her first job was a Clerkess in 1962 with The North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Company in Leith docks and she often recalled being wolf whistled when delivering manifests to the ships in the docks. Sheena always wanted to be a nurse, first coming to mind when caring for her Granny while she lived with the family. It was her granny that mentioned she should be a good nurse and at 17 years old her first step on this journey was to be an auxiliary at Leith Hospital before starting as a student nurse when she turned eighteen. She worked in many hospitals across Edinburgh and latterly became a district nurse in the mid 80s in Bonnyrigg, which she loved. Raymond recalls in the middle of the night, especially in winter, when she was called out, he had to drive her as it was a rural practice. Although her nurses uniform came in handy when she was stopped for speeding a couple of times when the police noticed her uniform said ‘oh not another district nurse’ and let her off with a warning. Unfortunately, Sheena had to retire early in 1997 when suffering sciatica following a working life of lifting patients before ‘moving and handling’ courses were the norm. She then dedicated her time to gardening, when her back allowed, often having open gardens to sell her plants and fruit on behalf of the church.

Sheena recalled when she first met Raymond ‘she was 15 and fat and he was 17 and spotty’ they both say it was definitely not love at first sight. However in 1963 Raymond’s Aunty Kay and Bessie conspired to set them both up on a date by arranging for him to pick up Sheena at the hospital and they went for a drive to North Berwick. On this date Raymond got down on his hands and knees to wrestle out her high heel which had got stuck in a grating. This was the sign of things to come as he’s been on them ever since.

They were engaged in 1964 and married at South Leith Baptist Church in 1965. The marriage got off to a bumpy start as on their first night on honeymoon, in a caravan in Gourock, when it rained all night and the skylight had been keft open, soaking their bed. While living in Viewforth, Sheena gave birth to John, in 1967, and David, in 1968. The family moved to Bonnington where their final attempt to have a girl failed and Graeme was born, in 1971. After moving to Claremont Gardens, in Leith, in 1972, the family moved to Penicuik in 1978.

Her nursing professionalism and parenting would always be a source of annoyance to the boys when growing up. Whenever they were looking for sympathy they would be greeted by phrases like ‘let the air at it’ and when John had a hernia ‘it’s nothing, don’t worry about it’ and when David broke his collarbone it took two days and an immobile arm and an x ray before she believed it.

Sheena was very active in the church throughout her life and loved signing in the choir.
Church Sunday school teacher
Church and Elba Choir where she appeared on tv and released two albums.

Sheena loved her garden, baking, singing and knitting. She regularky baked on a Friday night while Raymond and the boys were at BBs. After spending all night baking, on their return, it would all be eaten before she could get any for herself.

In 2013 Sheena was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and spent her later life in Letham Park where she received wonderful care. Raymond visited Sheena nearly every night and only not making it when his own illness got in the way.

As well as husband, Raymond, Sheena is survived by three sons; John, David and Graeme, seven grandchildren Jemma, Charlotte and Aimeee, Daniel and Rebecca and Mark and Emily; and five great grandchildren; Grace, Connor Joe, Louisa Rose, Caden and Ellie