Obituary: Lynne Elizabeth Bourgeois

Lynne Elizabeth Bourgeois

16 February 1948 – 31 July 2022

Lynne passed away on Sunday 31 July 2022 from a brain tumour that had been devastatingly diagnosed in November 2018 and given a prognosis of three months without surgery and possibly an extra six months following surgery. Lynne bravely underwent the surgery which could not remove all the tumour and which needed a plate fitting and she also had chemotherapy sessions and as a result had three precious years being cared for and supported by her devoted husband, Jean-Pierre and sons Paul and Richard and their families. The chemotherapy sessions she eventually, bravely, discontinued as the after effects left her feeling very unwell for some time and she wanted to live every precious minute she could without suffering very badly from the after effects.

Lynne was educated at Melton Mowbray Grammar School and from there had gained a place at Loughborough College choosing to study fashion and in particular Millinery and opened a small shop in Melton Mowbray mainly selling ladies hats and gloves. Whilst still at school, aged 14, she had a French pen-pal, Jean-Pierre, an exchange student programme run by the school, and they continued to write to each other and over time they met and fell in love and were married on 16 August 1969. Such was the local interest in the dashing Frenchman from Fontainebleau and the beautiful local girl that the press took wedding pictures and wrote a feature on the happy couple. Lynne became interested in Chiropody whilst working for a friend in Loughborough Chiropody Clinic and deciding to change careers she qualified as a Chiropodist in 1970 and then joined the Institute where she was a dedicated and committed member for over 50 years. In various moves around the country, with Jean-Pierre’s engineering work, Lynne took Branch positions as Secretary in the Sussex Branch and Chair at Leicester/Northants, Treasurer at Nottingham Branch and latterly serving for some years as a Nottingham Branch Auditor and was always involved with the organisation of Branch seminars and CPD events. Having professional membership of the Institute was very important to Lynne and her years of commitment helped support our Association. When Nottingham Branch hosted the AGM and Conference at Eastwood Hall in 2010 both Lynne and Jean-Pierre were visible both days working together on some of the stands and meeting members. All the qualities one would hope for in a friend and a colleague Lynne possessed in heaps! She was a very practical and professional person with a kind and compassionate heart and that was evident when early in her career she agreed to hold a regular session at the Blind Institute locally as it couldn’t find a willing practitioner to arrange sessions to trim toenails.

Lynne had an open mind and didn’t discount the benefits of alternate therapies and was interested and knowledgeable about herbal remedies. Knowing a friend had trouble sleeping Lynne, in her practical and helpful way, produced some bags of Lavender she had grown, dried, and prepared herself which she said would be helpful if the bags were placed near the pillows as Lavender had long usage as a wellknown remedy to aid sleep! A typical gesture of Lynne’s help and care to others. She was a terrific person, kind and caring and even though she had such a consuming illness to cope with she was interested to hear of others and when she could no longer attend Branch meetings would always ask how friends and Branch members were and were they well. Lynne will be sadly missed by her friends and colleagues and greatly by her husband Jean-Pierre and her sons Paul and Richard and their families who were supported by the British Red Cross Crisis Intervention Community Support Services, Nottingham, and whose help enabled Lynne to be cared for at home and to where donations made in memory of Lynne were directed. We offer her family our heartfelt condolences and sympathies. Lynne will always be remembered by friends and colleagues for the virtuous person she was and of her long-time commitment and dedication to our professional body. Vivit Post Funera Virtus.

Valerie Dunsworth, Nottingham Branch Secretary/Treasurer

Lynne had a rare ability to put people at ease, along with a mischievous sense of humour and fun. Always on hand for advice and help.

I will miss her dearly. A true friend. Tony Eaton, Past Branch Member

It has been a pleasure over the years to have known Lynne. A true friend and colleague.

She will be fondly remembered.

Heather McCance and Anne Rockley,

Nottingham Branch Members.

I knew Lynne, initially as a Committee Member, when I joined the Institute but it was quite obvious what a lovely person she was. Sensible, knowledgeable, but most of all so friendly and approachable – and always with a lovely warm smile.

From the moment she was diagnosed with her illness Lynne carried on regardless, she was so strong and you couldn’t do anything but have the utmost respect for her. She fought her illness with such dignity.

The Institute has sadly lost a dedicated and valuable member! My sympathies go to her family as I know they will miss her terribly. Rest in Peace Lynne. Anne Sparkes, Nottingham Branch Minute Secretary.

I worked with Lynne as a Branch Auditor with both of us in previous years having served as the Branch Treasurer. Lynne was a reliable and conscientious colleague and had a very good sense of humour as well as being a kind, caring and professional member.