Lady Jean’s last goodbye
‘She was much loved by everyone on the island’
Mourners line Knowe Road to pay their respects as Lady Jean makes her final journey to the Hamilton family cemetery in the grounds of Brodick Castle.
Earlier Prince Albert II of Monaco had joined her family and a packed congregation in Brodick Church for the funeral service for Lady Jean Fforde, who died on Friday October 13 at the age of 96.
Royalty
Lady Jean has a family connection with the Monaco royalty going back to Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton, the daughter of the 11th Duke of Hamilton, who married Prince Albert I in 1869.
Meanwhile, a book of condolence has been opened and is now available to sign in Brodick Library, with North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson the first to sign it after attend- ing the funeral service. Provost Clarkson said: ‘We were all really saddened to hear of the passing of Lady Jean. She was a remarkable and dignified lady and was much loved by everyone on the island.
‘Despite her advancing years, she still played an active role in the community. Only a couple of weeks ago, she appeared in the
Arran Banner when she hosted a charity event for the Arran Youth Foundations. That’s a pretty amazing effort and testament to the kind of spirited and hard-working person she was.
‘I send my deepest condolences to everyone on the island and, of course, to her family and friends.’
A retiral collection for the AYF raised the tremendous sum of £1,900 for the youth group.
The people of Arran said a final farewell to Lady Jean Fforde when hundreds gathered to pay their respects at her funeral in Brodick Church on Monday.
The heavy skies seemed to reflect the mood as European royalty joined mourners from all walks of life at the packed church.
Respects
Prince Albert II, the reigning monarch of the principality of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi, joined her close family as well as relatives and friends from near and far as more than 370 people packed themselves into the church. Many more paid their respects in their own way, away from the church, given the miserable day it was.
The prince, the son of Prince Rainier III and the American actress Grace Kelly, made a flying visit to Arran for the funeral, leaving immediately after the funeral service but was unable to stay for the private committal at the Hamilton family cemetery in the grounds of Brodick Castle. He is relative of Lady Jean, who died on Friday October 13 at the age of 96.
The service began as Lady Jean’s family, led by son Charles and daughter-in-law Lynn and their family, entered the church to the strains of God be in
my head from the Book of Hours 1514.
The Rev Angus Adamson led the call to worship and said Lady Jean had led ‘a truly remarkable life’ before the congregation sang
The Lord’s My Shepherd to the tune of Brother James’s
Air.
Following a prayer, the 8th Duke of Montrose, James Graham, read psalm 121 before Rev Adamson read 1 Corinthians 15. There followed a solo hymn sung beautifully unaccompanied by Mairi MacInnes, which was followed by the eulogy and a prayer of thanksgiving before the final hymn All Creatures of Our God and Kind to the tune Lasst Uns Erfreuen.
Following the benediction, the retiral music was
Island Music sung by Mairi MacInnes as the congregation left the church.
Outside, Lady Jean’s coffin was transferred to the waiting hearse and mourners lined the street as she was taken on her last drive to the grounds of Brodick Castle, via the castle drive, followed by her family and a cortege of mourners in their cars.
A retiral collection for the Arran Youth Foundations group was held at the funeral.
Afterwards a celebration of the life of Lady Jean was held in a marquee in the grounds of her Strabane home where the Isle of Arran Pipe Band entertained a large number of the funeral goers who were invited in church to attend the event.