Gwyn (Gwyneth) Jones, who lived in the heart of Barrow for 40 years, died suddenly in July. Her enthusiasm and energy have left a lasting impression on those who knew her, in Barrow and beyond.
She was born on February 5th, 1939, in Melborn, Cambridgeshire, and grew up during the onset of World War II. Her father was stationed away in the RAF, and her mother relocated to London, where they endured air raids, often hiding in basements during bombings. Gwyn developed a love for the fner things in life - food, music, clothes, and wine - after frequent trips to London's West End, Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and other iconic stores.
As a teenager, she cherished time with her uncle and aunt, who were like a second family to her. She attended Gloucester College, studying home economics. In 1961, during a summer archaeological dig in North Wales, she met John Jones, later her husband, and they were married on July 17th, 1964, in Birmingham. Their wedding was nearly thwarted by an arson attack on their original church, but they quickly found a new venue.
Gwyn and John shared a love for renovation, and their first major project began in 1968 when they moved to The Forge in Orleton. Over the years, they moved several times, including to Leominster in 1977 and later to The Long House, High Street, Barrow upon Soar in 1979, where they lived for the next 40 years. They loved living in Barrow and very quickly became involved in Barrow life joining in with village events. Gwyn, taught at Hind Leys College, Shepshed and instilled a love of learning in her daughters, Nicola and Jenny, both of whom now work in education.
Her love of cooking was well known, as she delighted in entertaining. Gwyn was also immensely proud of her grandchildren - Rebecca, Michael, Ben, and Tom - and cherished spending time with them, especially during summer family holidays at their home in the Loire Valley in France.
Gwyn was heavily involved in Barrow life and active in dementia support groups like Trinity Lunch Club at Holy Trinity Church and Forget Me Not in Loughborough. Her passion for dementia awareness, sparked by her husband's diagnosis, led her to fundraise for Dementia UK (Leicestershire). She was a fierce advocate for the role of Admiral Nurses and dedicated much of her time to this cause.
She was also active in U3A, the National Housewives Register and the Charnwood Community Choir.
Gwyn's energy, warmth, and determination to live life fully, left a lasting impression on her family and community. She passed away suddenly on July 15th 2025 surrounded by her family. She leaves behind her two daughters, four grandchildren and many dear friends, all of whom will forever cherish her memory.
Nicola Shipman (Gwyn’s daughter)