Janis Wallace (Passed away 9 Mar 2022)

In loving memory of Janis Wallace who sadly passed away on 9th March 2022

The following will be read by Tom Osborn at Jan's funeral.

Janis, known as Jan to everyone, was born on 10 September 1931 to Doris and Norman Pearshouse. Both parents came from generations of Black Country people of which Jan was very proud. Her father emigrated to Australia in 1913 but on the outbreak of war, he joined the ANZACS, was injured at Gallipoli, and after recuperation married Doris in 1918. They returned with Norman’s infantry unit to Australia but they came back to Stourbridge, opened a shop and petrol station where Jan and her sister, Norma, had a happy life.

After leaving Stourbridge High School, where she was hockey, swimming and house captain, Jan trained to be a teacher from 1949 to 1951 at Southlands College in Wimbledon. Having completed her training Jan taught at Macefields Secondary School, in the heart of the Black Country.

During this time Jan took great pleasure in a wide range of social and sporting activities. She played hockey for Kidderminster and represented Worcester at the same time as Norma played for Staffordshire. She particularly enjoyed Scottish dancing. Then, in 1954, Jan taught at the Brook School, Loughton, where her future husband Malcolm, nicknamed Wally, had been a pupil.

Their whirlwind courtship began on a school skiing holiday in Switzerland in April 1962. They were engaged in August and married at Stourbridge on 29 December. It was the worst winter for many years but that meant little as they began their life together in Chingford.

When Jan became pregnant with Lynne they decided to move to a larger flat. This was not easy - rents were high and many landlords displayed notices saying no blacks, no Irish, no children. They eventually found a flat in South Woodford.

As their love developed so did their interest in politics. Early in the morning of 9 April 1964 Jan told Wally that Lynne was on the way but she was determined to vote for the Labour and Communist candidates who were standing. This meant taking two buses to get to the polling booth at Chingford and then to Thorpe Coombe Hospital in Walthamstow. This they did, and Lynne was born the following day on her dad's birthday.

The family then spent five wonderful years in Grimsby and Andrew was born on 9 February 1966 in Cleethorpes at one of the hospitals that Wally managed as a Catering Manager.

Grimsby totally changed their lives. Wally joined the Communist Party and Jan did the same a year later. It was a decision they never regretted. Jan later became a branch secretary and a member of two of its regional bodies. She organised three Morning Star Christmas Bazars, sold the paper at events and in the High Street. She read the paper until the very end. Jan participated in dozens of major national and local campaigns and thoroughly enjoyed annual rallies such as the Burston School Strike. Her favourite was Fête Humanité, in Paris. Jan was also a founder member of Chelmsford UNICEF, was its secretary throughout its existence, and raised thousands of pounds.

Jan made friends easily and valued their friendship particularly that of Val Tyler and Jean Roberts who she met during her early years at school. They enjoyed being teenagers together, family life, and remained in close contact until a few days before Jan's death; she treasured their many years of friendship.

Jan grew up in a methodist environment and taught at Sunday school. Like her sister, Jan played the organ at the local chapel. She enjoyed its social life, including brownies and girl guides, but she was never religious and found it easy to transfer her affection for community activity to one that was dedicated to socialism. For many years the family enjoyed Communist Party Holiday Schools either in the UK or on the continent. Both Jan and Wally loved to travel and during their holidays they built friendships all over the world.

Family life brought great joy and somehow Jan and Wally escaped the stresses and strains that teenagers can bring. Andrew married Lisa and although the marriage did not last it did produce two wonderful grandchildren Callum and Kitt. Jan took great pleasure from the way in which they grew to manhood and began their own exploration of life with their partners Hannah and Gabbi.

Lynne’s marriage to Martin was the perfect gift and his children Simon and Rebecca became a special part of the family. The Wallace family gatherings were always one of pleasure.

With the exception of her pregnancies, Jan taught until retirement and after moving to Chelmsford in 1972 she taught at Hylands and then Baddow Hall Junior School until she retired. Jan enjoyed this period immensely. She loved the company of children, was elected as an NUT rep, rarely missed union meetings, and was a member of the Mid Essex NUT Committee for many years. Jan was awarded the union’s honorary life membership.

When Jan retired she became a pupil again by practising Iyengar yoga. She was so enthused that she encouraged Wally, Lynne, and Martin to take it up. Lynne is now training to teach Iyengar yoga.

She supported Chelmsford City Fairtrade Campaign right from its launch; she always ensured that Fairtrade products dominated the pantry shelf and assisted the local group at its public events. Jan thoroughly enjoyed keep-fit classes and those of the WEA.

Jan was always delighted to meet pupils she had taught but none more so when at a rally to mark the women’s chain makers strike of 1910, she got talking to an elderly lady who turned out to be a pupil she had taught at Macefields. After the rally, they went to Macefields to reminisce. It was a lovely day which Jan never forgot.

Jan’s contribution to society was enormous and she will be remembered with great affection as a teacher, community and political activist, co-operator and neighbour. She will never be forgotten by all those who
knew her.

Memorable dates in Jan's full and wonderful life
1931
Janis Pearshouse is born in Wordsley Infirmary, Kingswinford, Worcestershire, and grows up in Stourbridge.

1936
Jan meets her lifelong friend, Jean (now in Canada), whose mother suggests that she invite Jan to play. She is so happy when she agrees. Both Jan and Jean go to Hill Street Junior School and then, at the age of 8, she met another life-long friend Val (now in Bristol) at the Brownies. Their teenage years are shared in a variety of local activities.

1942
Jan attends Stourbridge County High School for Girls where she is captain of hockey, swimming and her House, Y ork.

1949
During August Jan visits Denmark after which she commences her teacher training course at Southlands College, Wimbledon.

1951
Jan starts her teaching career at Macefields Secondary School, Old Hill. She enjoys life in the Girl Guides, playing the organ at Gig Mill Chapel, Scottish dancing and playing hockey for Kidderminster and Worcester. Her sister Norma plays hockey for Staffs.

1962 Easter.
Jan met Malcolm (Wally) on a Loughton school skiing holiday in Swizerland. They are engaged on 24 June and marry on 29 December at Gig Mill Chapel, Stourbridge.

1964 10 April.
Lynne is born in Walthamstow.

1965
The family move to Grimsby and Jan joins the Communist Party of Great Britain. She organises three Morning Star Christmas Bazars, donates her blood to Medical Aid for Vietnam and is elected to the Essex District Committee of the CP in 1971.

1966 9 February.
Andrew is born in Cleethorpes.

1968
Jan, always an opponent of racism, organises a demonstration against Enoch Powell's trip to Cleethorpes following his 'Rivers of Blood' speech.

1970
The family return to Essex and Jan continues to play her part in the community and politics. She cooks the players' teas at Loughton Rugby Club, renews friendships and enjoys its social life.

1971
Jan starts teaching at her last school, Baddow Hall, Chelmsford, where she is a union rep. After 40 years as a member of the NUT, Jan is awarded Honorary Life Membership. From 1970 - 2021 Jan participated in, or organised, far too many activities to mention, but they include campaigning for peace, the 1984 Miner's Strike, the 1994 Chelmsford Bus Strike, and with Lynne and Andrew, she worked tirelessly, and succesfully, to stop ward closures at Broomfield Hospital. Jan supported all Fairtrade and Chelmsford TUC events. A founder member and Secretary of the Chelmsford branch of UNICEF for 16 years, Jan also assisted Amnesty International and was a passionate and loyal member of Chelmsford Star Co- operative Society. She thoroughly enjoyed Scottish dancing, WEA classes and Keep Fit. She also joined the National Eczema Society just after its launch in 1975.

1991
Jan retires from teaching and makes new friends when she begins practicing Iyengar yoga which continues until 2022. Her enthusiasm for yoga inspires Wally, Martin and Lynne, who is currently training to teach yoga. Jan and Wally enjoy their retirement and visit at least 35 countries including having two wonderful cruises with the family.

1996
12 April. Jan's Grandson, Callum, is born.
28 September. Lynne marries Martin, and Simon and Rebecca are welcomed to the family.

1998 5 March.
Jan's second Grandson, Christopher (Kitt) is born.

2020 11 December.
Jan is vaccinated to prevent Covid infection but over Christmas she is unwell and is tested for Covid on 30 December.

2021/2022
Early in January 2021 Jan's test is confirmed positive. She continues to practice Iyengar Yoga until January 2022. During the last month of her life Jan critically reviews Wally's latest TSSA history and the day before her death on 9 March 2022, helps him to compile an exhibition to celebrate the union's 125th year.