OBITUARY
JEAN STONE MBE
We at Spinal Injuries Scotland were very sad to hear of the passing of Jean Stone who was a founding member of Spinal Injuries Scotland from its initial conception as Scottish Paraplegic Association in 1960. Jean was also instrumental in the development of Stoke Mandeville as a centre of excellence for international disability.
Jean was heavily involved with the Third Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Edinburgh in 1970 and served the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as a volunteer for decades. She was fittingly awarded the Paralympic Order in recognition of her incredible contribution to the Paralympic Movement.
Jean left school in the 1950s and trained as an Occupational Therapist, a relatively new career at the time. Jean got a job at the Thistle Foundation working with disabled ex-servicemen. It was while working with them that she was first introduced to the National Games at Stoke Mandeville.
Jean Stone and the late Bob Mitchell were the driving forces behind the establishment and development of disability sport in Scotland throughout their lives.
Following her time at the National Stoke Mandeville Games in 1962, Jean worked to get funding from the Secretary of State, writing to him in her capacity as secretary of the Scottish Paraplegic Association for sporting activities of the disabled in Scotland to be recognised.
Spinal Injuries Scotland was saddened to hear of Jean’s passing as she was a huge part of our history. The Charity is grateful for her influence and development of disability sports in Scotland.
In 1963 the National Stoke Mandeville Games were held in Edinburgh at Dreghorn Barracks. Jean was also instrumental in arranging a Scotland v England wheelchair basketball competition in Princes Street gardens in the centre of Edinburgh during the Edinburgh International Festival with spectators from all over the world watching. Scottish teams coordinated by Jean competed annually in the National Stoke Mandeville Games and the GB Team was made up of a significant number of Scottish team members at the International Stoke Mandeville Games.
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