When we met in 2011, through our shared interest in Bridport and its cohousing community, I soon recognised Jane as a trusted friend. She was unfathomably Jane - warm, hospitable, insightful, enquiring and tolerant - able to both give and receive confidences in the trust of friendship.

I moved from Devon to Bridport and Jane was always up for new adventure as well as welcoming newcomers to her favourite haunts and walks. Her local knowledge helped me to realise what treasure I’d won in choosing Dorset as my new home. And what better guide? Jane had criss-crossed West Dorset tirelessly throughout her decades here and was still eagerly learning new routes. Earlier this year we walked down to Dancing Ledge on a beautiful, bright sunny day where Jane was undaunted by scaling the short vertical rock face that unnerved seemingly agile people a third her age. Another day, we found a perfect picnic spot during our walk to Eggardon, only to realise we were innocently enjoying the distant corner of a local resident’s garden. We enjoyed plants, butterflies, rocks and weather: whatever we came across. And everything was a good subject for discussion. Less typically, we practised being real ladies at the polite and traditional Taunton Flower Show, which Jane fancied visiting, and at the beautiful garden at Hestercombe, walking in the footsteps of Gertrude Jekyll.

Jane had an admirable grasp of life and how to lead it to the full - physically, emotionally and spiritually. Although we each led very separate lives, I will miss her greatly, but it seems absolutely fitting that she will never endure the erosion of her ability to lead life in the exuberant way that was so natural to her. Jane gave so much of herself and will live on for me, not least in remembrance of her remarkable skill for living life in community with those around her.

With much love to her and all her family, Christine.