CPRE Shropshire

Obituaries (in full - abridged versions in Summer 2011 newsletter)

Janet Goose
Janet was born in Birmingham in 1930, daughter of the headmaster of a Grammar School. When war broke out she was sent to Tasmania, along with her cousin. There she developed her love of the countryside which was to dominate her whole life.

In 1945 she returned to Birmingham and five years later married Denys, who had recently qualified as a dentist, and they moved to Chester. Here they both became involved in local environmental organisations including CPRE, Friends of the Earth and Chester Civic Society, campaigning to protect the city’s Green Belt.  Janet worked in the antiques business and was a curator at Chester Museum.

They moved to Shrewsbury in 1989 where Janet continued to campaign on environmental issues fighting successfully to stop Christmas car parking in the Quarry. She devoted much energy to support CPRE, being for some years secretary of the Shrewsbury District Group and a member of the County Executive Committee. For ten years she edited the Shropshire CPRE newsletter bringing in fresh ideas while her own contributions reflected her vast knowledge of environmental matters and her passion to pursue them.

Once settled in Shrewsbury she put into practice her firmly held beliefs, setting up an organic garden when she and Denys moved to Baker’s Court in Wyle Cop, as well as maintaining an allotment which she managed organically. She was probably one of the first in Shrewsbury to install solar panels to reduce electricity consumption.

As her husband put it:  “Janet was a strong minded, passionate person, caring for people and the world they lived in, always helpful and caring for others, but determined to see that a voice was heard for the things she believed in.”

Selby Martin  (with thanks to Denys Goose)

Dr Alicia Symondson
Alicia Lewis was born in 1914, before the First World War began; her life spanned an era which began with horse-drawn transport and is now the age of ipods and blackberries.

Alicia studied in Cambridge and was determined to become a doctor. When at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital she was sent on a course to Ashridge College where Dr John Symondson saw her coming down the main stairs, dressed in a brown corduroy skirt and yellow jumper. He announced “that’s the woman for me” -  and they duly were married in 1941.

Their subsequent life together revolved around their happy family, their medical practice and the many activities they did together.

In 1946 the Symondson family arrived in Shropshire, having acquired the practice centred on Knockin Heath. A lady doctor in Kinnerley was indeed a novelty and not always considered to be quite up to standard. Initially, it was not uncommon for this lady doctor to be told by the patient “I will come back when the proper doctor is here”. But Alicia’s wonderful compassion and skill soon changed that.

It was typical of the ethos of the Symondsons that they were delighted at the arrival of the NHS, as they were totally committed to its principle of a fair deal for everyone, rich or poor.

Apart from her home and working life, Alicia had a huge range of outside interests all of which she pursued rigorously. She was an active member of the WI and Mothers’ Union; she joined the local amateur dramatic society and performed in several plays and for many years she went regularly to Kinnerley School to help with the children’s reading.

As a result of her interest and unbounded curiosity in the natural world she was an active member of various natural history, history and archaeology societies, as well as wildlife and landscape pressure groups. For many years she was a very able Chairman of the Oswestry Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. She was very proud of the Peel’s Plantation, the woodland behind the Parish Hall, which was planted up by Tom Ward Green and her husband John Symondson; she was its chairman and driving force, only handing over the reins when she was 96.

After John’s death, Alicia, if anything increased the volume of her activities, travelling throughout the world, often on arduous journeys to uncomfortable places, all overcome with a flourish and a story to tell. At 92 she made a memorable trip to India.

Alicia made friends wherever she went; she was interested in people of all ages and backgrounds, enjoyed their company and made huge efforts to keep in touch.

How will I remember her? For her kindness to my family, for her compassion, her sense of humour, her wisdom and, above all, for her company; she was just very good fun to be with.

Mike Bullen (CPRE Oswestry)