Communications
Jane’s writings attracted interest from sources other than the Press and Media.
Jane’s godfather, Peter Adamson, and a life-long friend, wrote a poem for Jane the day he heard about her death. Epitaph for a Young Writer was read at her funeral.
The late composer, John Tavener, responded with interest when we sent him an extract of Jane’s writing and he expressed a wish to set some of the words to music.
The family was asked if they’d like to have Jane’s diary extract read at two candlelit vigils (1996;1997) for bereaved parents at Southwark Cathedral. We agreed and attended both vigils. The late Diana Lamplugh read the diary extract on one occasion. Mrs Shand-Kydd was present at the first vigil.
A film director contacted us about making a television play of Jane’s life and writings. Sadly, the project did not progress beyond an initial meeting.
Editorial responses from publishing houses to whom we either sent the first three chapters and a synopsis of Jane’s novel (as requested) or the entire novel itself, were favourable, praising ‘the very high standard’ of the writing. But all without exception, as a condition of publication, asked for a follow-up novel.
We believe that Jane’s novel is an engaging piece of work, an outstanding achievement for one so young. The first chapter of The Dream of Lorn in the Forest Tegoth appears on this site. The lovely illustrations are by Mary Gordon-Smith. We hope you agree and enjoy reading it.
The Chief Executive of the London Examinations and Assessment Council awarded Jane a posthumous grade A on the strength of her Coursework in A Level English Literature (36/40 marks). She had not been able to sit the exam owing to the debilitating effects of chemotherapy .
Jane was allocated places at Exeter, Reading and Royal Holloway Universities subject to her A level results. The night before she died she learned that Oxford had shown interest in offering her a place. For the first time in her ordeal she expressed sadness: ‘It’s not fair’, she said. We had to agree. Reading had asked for EE grades in two subjects and promised a self-contained flat for the three years she would be there. This was so that she could study and recover safely from the side-effects of the ongoing chemo and radiotherapy. Jane had been hoping to study Drama and Classical Civilisation.
Leukaemia Care provided much-appreciated family support during the six months of Jane’s illness. There was always someone at the other end of the phone to listen and advise. A complication was that Jane had been diagnosed with two kinds of leukaemia. This made the treatment protocol difficult to gauge. We were happy to acknowledge the society’s helpfulness in the accounts given in the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday and considerable funds were raised as a result.
Jane’s secondary school, where she was in the sixth form, gave tremendous support throughout her ordeal. Staff and pupils visited Jane in hospital and at home. Nothing was too much trouble. The school choir sang at her funeral. A blossoming tree was planted in her memory.
A week before she died Jane was told there was no trace of leukaemia left in her body. Chemo and radio-therapy had been successful. She told the consultant at Kings College Hospital that she felt well. Unfortunately the chemo and radio-therapy had compromised her immune system. In a subsequent letter the same doctor expressed shock at Jane’s sudden death.
A few months earlier her father had led a guided meditation with Jane. Jane was fascinated by the outcome and, for her, the experience of such a meditation had been serene and enlightening.
Jane’s death was accompanied, before and after, by what can only be described as synchronistic or benign paranormal activity. The day she died electrical appliances in the home blew up or broke down; a radio in her room switched itself on and off during the night; light bulbs popped and blew; a scent of flowers pervaded her room. There were other benign but extraordinary manifestations and happenings throughout the following year, all recounted in various newspaper or magazine articles of the time, almost as if she had wanted to make a dramatic exit.
Last but not least, in 1997, we received a letter from Mother Teresa of Calcutta assuring us that Jane had returned to God ‘who loved her first’. At the prompting of friends, we had sent her a copy of Jane’s last thoughts and Mother Teresa’s reply was affirmative and touching.
