Members of staff at Sovereign Lodge care home in Eastbourne have issued a tribute to a resident who sadly died in August this year, having lived at the home for three years.
Jennifer (Jenny) Tanner was born in Polegate in 1939, where she grew up with her family. She had a love of ballet from a very young age, and enjoyed ballet classes taught by her Aunt Mary. Jenny would love visiting the theatre to see ballet performances and her favourite shows were Swan Lake and the Nutcracker.
When she finished school in 1955, Jenny began work for her father, Arthur, who owned a chemist, before moving to London to take a job at the British Museum in 1970. She worked in various roles at the museum, but her favourite was as a tour guide, during what she also met Sir David Attenborough, one of her idols.
Jenny returned to Sussex to care for her parents until they sadly died in the early 1990s. Shortly after moving to Eastbourne, she met ‘the love of her life’, Michael, to whom she was happily married for 20 years until he sadly passed away in 2010.
Jenny moved to Sovereign Lodge in 2017 after suffering a serious fall. At the time she was unable to walk without specialist equipment, but her determination and refusal to accept this meant she worked hard on strength building, exercising and dancing in her chair until six months later she could stand and walk with a frame. By 2018 she could walk unassisted.
Tracy Wenham, activities coordinator for Sovereign Lodge said; “Losing Jenny has affected everyone here at the home. She was such a vibrant, positive woman, which we knew as soon as we met her.
“She was so very determined to become mobile and independent again. She’d exercise at every opportunity; whilst she was painting, eating, playing cards – we think she even exercised in her sleep!
“Seeing her elation at her progress was so special and her friends and family were astounded by her recovery and her pure determination to get herself walking again.
“Jenny continued to live a very full life at Sovereign Lodge, always helping when and where she could, and was always the life and soul of the party, who couldn’t wait to get up and dance. She also loved painting and we all hugely enjoyed her colourful, vibrant creations, so much so we are currently framing a number of her pieces for display around our home. We will all miss her dearly.”
Sam Kirwan, manager of Sovereign Lodge added, “Jenny was a big part of the Sovereign Lodge family and we will always remember her bright, determined and creative character – she was a wonderful lady.”
Sovereign Lodge is part of the Healthcare Homes Group and is based on Carew Road in Eastbourne. For more information call 01323 412285.
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