Obituary: Janette Gailey, former nurse

TRIBUTES have been paid to Janette Gailey, a former nurse and missionary who has died at the age of 101.

Janette Rounsfell Gailey was born Janette Rounsfell Brown in Glasgow on August 4, 1909, the fourth of five children of Walter Rounsfell Brown and Jane Richmond Anderson.

When her father became general treasurer of the Free Church of Scotland the family moved to Edinburgh and attended Buccleuch and Greyfriars Church where, in 1932, Janette became a member. She completed her schooling in George Watson's Ladies College before proceeding to Edinburgh University where she graduated with a view to becoming a teacher.

However, faced with a lack of available teaching posts, she resolved to train as a nurse and completed her General Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health training before working for eight years as a health visitor in the city.

With her father having also been convener of the Foreign Missions Committee for a time, it is not surprising that Janette should be drawn towards that field and she travelled to central India to join the Free Church Mission team there in Lakhnadon and Chapra in 1947.

Before returning for a second five-year term in India in 1953, she gained diplomas in Education and Religious Education studying in Moray House College which enabled her, in addition to exercising her nursing skills, to oversee the Chapra Mission School. Nearest her heart was the sharing in care of the growing number of orphan children who became the responsibility of the mission.

Duties at home prevented her from returning for a third term in India so she settled close to her ageing mother in Lasswade and taught in Midlothian schools until retiring from Dalkeith High.

She had a lifelong interest in stamps and her knowledge of philately was encyclopaedic. She became a licensed stamp dealer in 1967, raising thousands of pounds for missions. The happiest outcome of this was her encounter with fellow-philatelist Andrew Gailey which led on to ten enriching years of married life.

She was an Edinburgh University Blue for swimming and a member of the team which won the British Universities Championship Cup in the 1930s.

She was very practical, intelligent and caring. When failing sight would have stopped many in their tracks, she set about tackling Braille.

She regularly corresponded with Terry Waite. On being told of Janette's passing by her nephew Bill, Mr Waite wrote, "The death of your aunt marks the passing of a great lady with a wonderful spirit."

No-one present will forget her 100th birthday celebration and her delight at the Queen's telegram and being surrounded by family and friends. To the very end, she maintained a keen interest in all the doings of the families of her nephews and nieces. She died on January 2.