In the spotlight is Jean Bridgeford

This is the section where we hear what the ordinary people of Forres think about their town and their local newspaper.

In the spotlight this week is, Jean Bridgeford (75) is known to generations of people in Forres who passed through her playgroup ‘Nursery Playmates’ at the Town Hall from 1969 until her retirement in 1994.

She was born in Singer’s Close opposite the cross and grew up at 91 High Street, Forres with her five siblings. Her first job was at ‘Harper’s Florist and Fruiterers’ at the same site as ‘Little Flower’ is now. Jean was engaged to her now-husband Ian at 17 and the pair have been happily married for nearly 55 years. They live on Strathcona Road.

What’s your earliest memory?

I have two vivid early memories.

The first is of standing at the end of Singer’s Close when a lady stopped when she saw me and said “I’ve never seen such rosy cheeks” and gave me a penny.

The High Street was our playground and we never wandered anywhere else. The park seemed far away.

The second is of seeing the Caroline Street fire when the “Gazette” office was burned. I’m in the photo that was in the “Gazette” a few weeks ago. Miss Beauchop ran it then. I remember her as being a very austere lady.

How long have you been in Forres?

I’ve lived here all my life – since 1937. I’ve never lived anywhere apart from when I stayed in digs in Elgin for three years when I worked as a clippie (bus conductress) on the Alexander buses in the early ‘50’s. We were neat and posh looking – there was none of the “get aff” stuff.

What’s the best thing about the town?

The people – especially the young ones. If you treat them with respect they will show respect to you. They learn from us. There’s nine or ten families around here and there’s not one bad kid amongst them. I have great neighbours – just lovely.

I love the kids coming round to see me at Halloween.

Kids have been my life. It’s unfortunate that you only hear about the bad ones and not the good ones. If I’m passing a group of them they always split to let me through. I’ve never had any trouble from young kids in Forres. Forres is looking for younger ones to take over officialdom in lots of different areas.

How do you think Forres could be improved?

I just love Forres, I have all my life and I’m very proud of it. I like seeing new people move hear and take part in everything.

What else do we need really? It’s what you make of it yourself. There are offers of help for everyone, you only need to take it up.

I wouldn’t want to change anything about Forres.

How do you spend your free time?

I enjoy walking around Forres.

I’m retired now but I was very involved in the Forres Townwomens Guild. Unfortunately it folded due to a lack of numbers which is disappointing. We still meet up though and are great friends.

I’m still involved in the St Leonard’s Church Guild. The church has a good Friday club for kids and it had a club for them in the summer.

What would you like to see happen over the next few years?

The end of unnecessary wars. They are a waste of young lives but I admire the soldiers who have to fight. Peace on earth would be everyone’s dream but it’ll never come.

If you won the National Lottery what would you do with the money?

Half the pleasure would be sharing with folk and making a difference to someone else’s life. We should all share. The most I ever won on the lottery was £70. I give money to cancer charities. All charities are looking for money but you can’t give to them all. I would include children’s charities with my winnings and keep some for myself.

I’m content with my life. I would spend some on ourselves but I can’t think what on. I have everything I need. Contentment’s great.

What’s the most amusing thing that’s ever happened to you?

There were so many during my playgroup days – I could have written a book. They were the happiest days of my life. There were so many funny things that happened.

One was when a kid was sitting in a red push-car we had waiting outside the only toilet at the playgroup and said to me: “if they don’t get out of there soon I’m going to give the kid a parking ticket.”

Describe Forres in three words.

Simply the best.

What do you think of the Forres Gazette?

It’s an institution in Forres that we have had all of our lives. People might remember too that there used to be the Forres News known as “The Squeak” which came out on a Saturday and was printed on Gordon Street. Maclean with the withered arm was a printer there.