Remembering Jess

Jess deserves an infinite number of words to adequately reflect the incredible essence of her.

But, who was she? 

She was the little girl who played independently for hours, exploring, mimicking, and organising. She was a tiny toddler, watching, mesmerised, as a goat nibbled a roll, poised in her hand, she had been ready to eat.

She was completely calm, only a few years old, serenely waiting for an injection. She was the infant pupil, who independently learnt her lines when playing the witch in Hansel and Gretel and sorted her own costume, from her inferior dressing up box.

She was the sister who entertained, instructed, and cajoled her little brother, Hugh. A brother she admired, loved, and loyally supported. She was the teenager who persevered, despite erratic road skills, in passing her driving test. 

She was the A’ level student, ecstatic on results day, with a confirmed place at York University. She was a lover of hygge as demonstrated in the home she shared with Alex – apparently, you can never overdo the fairy lights, candles, and cushions. She was meticulous in her organisation and planning, recording all her aspirations and goals in a journal.

She was one of only a few successful applicants – appointed by Airbus – as an engineer. And on 8 January 2021, the day of her funeral, a satellite she had worked on, was launched from Cape Canaveral inscribed boldly with the words, and a moving tribute, ‘Thank you, Jess!’.

We want to keep Jess’ memory alive and in doing so do what she would have done – hopefully some good.

If we can do one thing for Jess, a much loved and desperately missed daughter, granddaughter, friend and colleague, we need to raise awareness, improve early cancer diagnosis, and provide hope for all suffering from this cruel disease.