To Jean's family, I'm so very sorry to hear of your loss, and
saddened that I had not found out earlier. I only discovered this today, when preparing to send letters to friends to explain that my wife and I had sold up and retired to Spain.
I am John David Howarth, the son of Louie Howarth
(nee Catton), who lived next door to the Thompson family on Birkby Lodge Road. The young Jean took a liking to my mum and they became firm friends, even after Jean and family moved to Netherton.
They ended
up losing touch and hadn't met for forty years. However, Jean and Laura saw my mum's obituary in the paper and came over to Brighouse for the funeral. I remember seeing two ladies that I din't recognise and assumed that they knew my mother from work, but no, that was not the case. Jean made herself and Laura known to me, and I was astonished. It was the only bright spot on an otherwise awful day in November 2004.
Good wishes to you all,

JOHN & ALLA HOWARTH (VALENCIA)