Inverness woman with MBE who spent life helping others dies at the age of 91

A woman who spent her life helping others through creative endeavours has died at the age of 91.

Tributes have been paid to Janet Taylor MBE who died at home in Inverness after battling vascular dementia in the last stage of her life.

Her funeral service will be held at Inverness Crematorium on Wednesday, April 30 at 2pm.

Born in Derby in 1933, Janet’s father was a painter and decorator for the railway and her mother was a nurse to people with additional support needs. Her sister Diane was born eight years after her.

Janet began dancing at the age of three and lived through WW2.

She began art college at the age of 13 which she attended for three years and ‘loved art in all forms’.

When she was 16, Janet’s mother told her she had to earn money, so she decided to start her own dance class.

Janet then went to teach classes at her mum’s work to people with additional support needs and eventually became a ward nurse there, where she met her husband John.

Having moved to various places together around England, Janet and John then heard about the opportunity at Craig Phadrig Hospital in Inverness and decided to make the move north with their three daughters Julie, Jen and Jo in 1968.

Janet became the recreational officer at Craig Phadrig and over the year’s put on concerts and pantomimes with the residents and staff.

She also took the residents away on holidays to the likes of Skegness and ensured that they received the best of care and life-enriching experiences.

Her daughter Jen said: “She just made everyone feel so included and gave everyone a part. She would make all the costumes and scenery.”

In 1994, Janet was recognised for all this hard work and dedication to the community and was given an MBE.

Jo said: “She was a bit embarrassed about it to begin with really. She never started putting it at the end of her name until many years later.”

Janet was part of the Art Society in Inverness and put on many exhibitions, including having art displayed at the Town House at one point.

After retiring in 1993, Janet went on to teach art classes for beginners at Charleston Community Centre, which became so popular she then began an improvement class.

Julie said: “She was so loved by everyone, and we would bump into people in town and they would say ‘you’re Janet’s daughter’.

“She touched so many people’s lives.

“If I could have a fraction of my mum, I would hope to be like her because she was just so wonderful.”

Known as an organiser, Janet was a member of a swimming group and organised holidays for her friends.

She played bowls and was a big fan of bingo, going as often as she could.

Alongside her many activities and community-based activities, Janet was very family-orientated and would always be at the centre of any big occasion.

She was a grandmother-of-four and great-grandmother-of-nine, and everyone would go to her home for Christmas.

Her three daughters decided to get a tattoo of one of her last drawings and proudly remember their mother as someone who was always on the go with others in mind.

Julie added: “She was full of spark and energy. She was amazing.”

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