Citizen Jean and her life of fun and devotion

became thought of as the old woman who couldn’t do her job properly and nobody could get rid of her.”

Many people in the area will remember her as Mrs Knox, the jolly teacher at Barassie Primary.

Jean received a call last Tuesday night from Troon Community Council revealing she was the new first citizen of Troon.

Chairman Helen Duff and the committee voted for her from a shortlist of five.

Keen curler Jean said: “I was a bit taken aback.

“There are so many people who are more deserving that I am. But I am honoured.”

Her nomination tipped her for the ceremonial role for “working tirelessly” for the Ayrshire Hospice.

In fact she was there right at the start as the concept was developed by Sir Tom Symington of Troon.

Jean was at that first meeting at Craigie College, staged under the auspices of Help the Aged.

They would decide not to buy the Marr College rector’s house in Dundonald Road, Troon. Instead they chose that now very well known property in Ayr’s Racecourse Road.

Jean spent 30 years teaching at Barassie, having graduated from Jordanhill College in 1963 and entering her first class at Dalmilling Primary. She spent a year at Troon Primary before becoming a

Barassie institution.

But she confessed: “To be honest I was not interested in teaching as a career. I just went to Jordanhill because all my friends were going there.”

That all changed as soon as she entered the classroom and she added: “I loved it until the day I closed the door for the last time. It still gives me a kick when I meet former pupils.”

Jean is mum to Stuart, 52, an IT specialist now living in Oxfordshire, and daughter Jill, 50, a London- based medical researchers.

She also works hard as an elder at Troon Old Church and runs everything from musical events to annual inter club bridge competitions.

On school retiral aged 60 she threw herself into working one day a week at the Hospice. With the same devotion she give her pupils, she kept patients in the last days of their lives happy and active. For 15 years her craft sessions from card making to pottery were hugely popular.

Husband Jim is preparing to act as her subservient consort for the next 12 months. However. sources suggest he is believed to be planning some more time at his golf and bowling clubs.

Troon Community Council chairman Helen Duff said: “Jean Morman is a very worthy winner of this annual award.

“The nominations we received were all worthy for recognition for the work they do in our community.”

Jean Morman is a very worthy winner of this annual award. The nominations were all worthy for recognition