My friend Jean Bell, who has died aged 62, was an artist and craftswoman and a much-loved founding member of the L’Arche community in south London, where 100 people with and without learning disabilities share life together.
Jean was born in Lambeth, south London, to Gladys (nee McLean), a housewife, and Harold Bell, a builder. Her parents had moved to Britain from Jamaica; she was their sixth child and the first to be born in the UK, although there were to be three more girls after her. Jean lived with her family as a baby but, having Down’s syndrome, was placed in care as a young child – such was the way of things for many families in the 1950s.
She lived first at the Fountain hospital in Tooting, south London, where she became friends with another little girl, Michelle Antia, who would be her companion for the rest of her life. When they were older they moved together to the hospital’s annexe, South Side in nearby Streatham.
By 1977, thinking about people with learning disabilities was changing, and L’Arche in London was begun. Jean moved in, along with Michelle, and her family were very involved in the move, as they had always wanted the best for her and remained close to her throughout her life.
Jean was then in her late teens, shy at first but full of exuberant, youthful energy. She learned to cook – sausages a favourite – and to take the 2B bus to the Brixton Adult Training Centre, where she did artwork and knitting, subcontracted packing work, and particularly enjoyed the Friday afternoon disco.
In 1979 the L’Arche workshops were opened and Jean became a highly skilled rugmaker, stoneworker and candlemaker. Her colourful artwork was used for rug designs and greetings cards, and she had several exhibitions of her work, including at Brockwell gallery in Herne Hill and at West Norwood library.
She was the best of workmates and encouraged all her colleagues, making close friendships with many of them as well as the people she lived with. When I arrived in L’Arche London in 1989, she was very welcoming; I lived there until I retired five years ago, and I remain a community member.
Jean did not find change and transition easy, but she overcame these challenges and travelled widely. She visited Uganda twice, and loved being a volunteer teacher for children with learning disabilities there. In Malaysia she attended the wedding of one of her many friends, and in Malta her knitting on the beach was even mentioned on local radio.
Jean continued to live in the L’Arche community until 2020. Michelle had died in 2019, and Jean’s own failing health required a move to a specialist care home in Streatham the following year.
She is survived by seven siblings, Johnathan, Hurvin, Veronica, Mavis, Vicky, Mbeke and Michelle.