JEAN LEISHMAN
Born: 1903 Died: 2010.
Jean was born in 1903 to parents Mary Lavery and Andrew Thomson Leishman.
The picture above shows a muffler/ scarf donated to the group by Jean. The muffler/ scarf was designed and made by her father Andrew Thomson Leishman. These garments were worn by young gentlemen wearing evening suits as a neck tie beneath an overcoat.
Andrew was born in Stonehouse in 1870 and worked in a four loom weaving cottage in New Street, the muffler / Scarf was gifted to Jean’s mother Mary Lavery in 1898 before they were married in 1901. Andrew and Mary moved for a time to study weaving in Glasgow, staying in Rutherglen. They returned to Stonehouse in 1903 on the death of Andrews’s grandfather to reside at 37 Lockhart Street.
Jean always said she was an incomer to the village having spent the first ‘three weeks’ of her life in Rutherglen before her parents returned to Stonehouse. Jean lived in the family home until she was 102, where she grew up with her sisters Peggy and Isabel and her parents. The picture below shows the three of them.
Andrew died in 1926 and his wife, Mary died in 1950.
Jean, Peggy and Isobel
Jean was a stalwart of the war years raising funds for the war effort and supporting those who fought at the front through two world wars. During the Second World War she was responsible for establishing a Savings Group and as a consequence of her efforts was invited to join the Queen and King George VI in 1946 at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
During her lifetime she experienced great social and physical changes in the development of Stonehouse, through world conflicts, the Great Depression, industrial advancement and innovation. Jean joined Townhead Primary in August 1917, taking the place of Miss Brown who was appointed to a Glasgow School. With her nurtured upbringing, academic training and natural talents for organisation, her abilities enabled her to gain employment with the Hamilton Advertiser with whom she worked for 40 years finishing her career in charge of commercial printing before retiring in 1971 aged 68. Jean in her retirement was also the local correspondent for 11 years, writing a number of historical articles pertaining to Stonehouse during her employment. These articles were among the first items collated by John young when the Heritage Group was established in 1991 and provided the basis and inspiration for further research and recording the historical background of our Stonehouse.
As one of Stonehouse parishes oldest residents Jean was still residing at 37 Lockhart street until the age of 102 when she moved to Canderavon Nursing Home in 2005 where she resided until she passed away day before her 107th birthday.
Her resolute faith and commitment to a lifetime relationship with St. Ninian’s Church she was known to say “God comes first; my neighbour second and I come third”. Jean was never short of visitors and friends to share in the company of this remarkable woman. Her generosity, inspirational character and spiritual faith was an example to all.
Despite her frailty and ageing years her memory never failed her and John Young who visited her was always captivated by her recollections of Stonehouse in bygone days. The book by John Young “Here’s tae us!’ was dedicated to Jean and indeed those gone before, who have contributed to the development of our village, from the first settlers on the banks of the Avon to our forefathers who shaped the community in which we live today.
Jean on her 100th Birthday
