Obituary: Marion Seonag Graham Morison
Tributes have been paid to the ‘incredible’ Seonag Morison, the founder of Home-Start Lorn who died aged 97 last month, for her tireless work for the local community.
‘My words could never describe the incredible person Seonag was,’ says HomeStart Lorn’s manager Aileen Binner.
‘Seonag was the inspiration and the energy behind the establishment of Home-Start Lorn.
‘It was probably around 1986 that Seonag first approached the local health visitor because she had some spare time on her hands, and she realised there were a few parents with young children around who had no extended family in the area. She thought she could be a ‘granny’ to them.
‘She did a bit of research – before the days of google – and discovered an organisation called Home-Start, which offered exactly what she had been thinking about.
‘In 1988 funding was in place and Home-Start Lorn became a reality.
‘Seonag supported many, many families over the years, until just before her 80th birthday, when ill-health meant she didn’t have quite enough energy to chase after a toddler.
‘However, Seonag was tireless in her efforts to ensure there was always enough funding to keep the organisation going – her homemade jam became her trademark at every local fundraising event, and people sought out the Home-Start stall for Seonag’s jam. Seonag was a familiar sight out bramble picking.
‘She continued to make her famous jam right up until she moved to be closer to her family a few years ago.
‘Seonag was much loved and greatly respected by all of us in Home-Start Lorn and the many parents and children she has been involved with over the years.’
Born in Helensburgh in 1921, Seonag joined the Red Cross as a nurse during the Second World War.
‘The hotel at Garelochhead was turned into a hospital so I worked there,’ she told The Oban Times in 2015.
‘I went to university at St Andrews and studied Philosophy, but I wanted to be a social worker, so I studied Social Science at Edinburgh University. After that I took a Mental Health course at the London School of Economics.’
In 1947, Seonag married husband, Charlie, who was in the navy at the time, but later trained as a civil engineer.
The couple went on to have four children – Tony, Iain, Colin and Sheila – who all followed in their father’s footsteps and became civil engineers. Sadly, Sheila died in a plane accident in Australia when she was 37.
Seonag and Charlie lived and worked mainly in England and bought a house in Appin to use for holidays. But they liked the area so much they decided to retire here and settled down to enjoy life in the local community.
When Charlie died in 1983, Seonag devoted herself to her voluntary work. She formed the Lorn branch of Home-Start, and was heavily involved with the Natural Childbirth Trust.
‘I was always interested in the relationship between mothers and children so decided to start the Home-Start scheme here,’ she explained.
‘Volunteers help to support young families with children under five, rather like a parent would do.
‘For instance, if the mother has to go out, the volunteer will look after the children until she gets back.’
Seonag received a special certificate when she celebrated 25 years with the charity, honouring her work as instigator, founder member, volunteer, trustee and supporter. She was also named Volunteer of the Year in 2004 by the Argyll and Bute Volunteer Centre in Oban and was presented with an engraved silver plaque.
Fondly known in Appin and the wider community as ‘the jam lady’, Seonag made thousands of jars of jam and marmalade for charity, particularly to help Home-Start and the Natural Childbirth Trust.
She also ran the Appin playgroup for 20 years, was an enthusiastic member of the local art club, enjoyed Scottish country dancing, and made countless pots of soup for the Lunch Club in Port Appin which she regularly attended.
Members paid tribute to Seonag’s tireless work for the local community and beyond when she moved to the south of England to live near her son, Tony, and daughter-inlaw, Sue, in Wiltshire.
‘She didn’t let her age stand in the way of anything she wanted to do,’ one said.
Seonag passed away
peacefully in her sleep at Fitzwarren House, Swindon, on June 22 after a short illness at the age of 97.
A funeral service will be held for Seonag at Appin Parish Church on July 26 starting at 12.30pm, followed by a reception at the Creagan Inn, Appin.
Donations to Lorn HomeStart rather than flowers please.