Lee Wallace has kindly put the following words together about Janet:

Kind, caring and approached everything with a sense of fun. A lady who cultivated a character that effortlessly would have fitted into an Alan Bennett play. I told her she was missing her calling, a Talking Heads one-woman show. If Bennett had discovered her I am convinced she would have been the go-to understudy if Dame Thora Hird had been indisposed.  She played up this part like a seasoned professional. We were all more likely to see this Janet. The one who could launch into a tale at a minute’s notice and wax-lyrical irrespective of the appropriateness of the timing of such a tale. Lord this lass liked to chat!  The perennial naughty school-girl told off for talking. I deeply suspect she got a kick out of being told off. It was all fun to her. There was always a knowing twinkle. She enjoyed a heckle and being heckled. It was all interaction and she thrived on it.  Of course there was another side to Janet which I think was her ‘stealth-mode’. She was helpful, caring, attentive and supportive to those in need but if she did give her time it was a more private matter. Those she helped would know but she never made a fuss or drew any attention to herself in this mode.  I believe a lot of Janet’s qualities went ‘under the radar’. She was a lot more thoughtful, insightful and knowledgeable than she would ‘let on’. I never knew if this was a deliberate ploy on her part or if Janet wasn’t as confident about her abilities and intellect as she should have been. Perhaps others that worked with her would have a better appreciation of this. I do know that in respect to her capacities as an artist she seriously underestimated her talent and technique. Having had some arty conversations with her I am pleased that I got to tell her this though I am sure I was one of many. I enjoyed her kindness and dedicated efforts at looking after animals. She took a lot of joy from this and her delight at caring for her hedgehogs was heart-warming.  She cared about animals and people and the Planet and approached any acts of kindness in a humble, unfussy way.   If we measure the contributions of a life she made a difference and touched many peoples lives in her unique manner. I am sure Janet’s ‘stealth-mode’ has a long history of helpful interventions and support which will probably only emerge in it’s entirety as she is remembered. We shall miss her sense of fun and her zest for life, a life that has sadly ended far too soon, and her famous tangential tales. I for one had so many more heckles for her and I am sad not to share them. For those with a belief I want to say share this image. Move up on that park-bench Dame Thora. There’s a new act in town. Hope you’ve got some sandwiches packed because you’re going to need ‘em...

Rest in Peace Janet.  With love from Jenny, Elaine and Lee xxx