Jeanette Ann grew up in Birmingham. She was one of three children with her older brother John and younger brother David. When she was at school, she was known as Nettie which she didn’t like, so she decided that being called Ann would be the best option! When Ann was 15, she and her family moved to Finchampstead, which was where her dad was originally from. Still a teenager, Ann met her husband-to-be Walter. When they married they first lived in Wokingham before settling in Sandhurst. Ann devoted herself to looking after Walter and their daughters Nina and Nicky. Each summer, Walter drove across Europe to Austria with Ann and the girls, to visit his family there. Tragically, Walter died when he was in his early 30s. At this heartbreaking time, Ann’s priority was to do the best she could for her daughters. Lots of people, family and friends, rallied round to help. However, when it came to money, Ann was determined to be self-sufficient. So that she could still look after her daughters, she became a childminder working from home. She then worked in a residential care home during school hours. She was very proud and the last thing she would have wanted was anyone’s pity.