I slept through Jayne's workshop - a speech therapist confesses

By Jane Thomas

The first time I met Jayne was on a vocal profile analysis course in 2000, one day before my 30^th birthday and the Monday after my 30^th celebrations. Of course I already knew Jayne’s high profile within the profession so I was somewhat in awe of her.

However I had spent the entire weekend in Wales celebrating with friends and family and the then new-love in my life. I was predictably exhausted and although only nine of us attended the masterclass style course I slept through large parts of it.

Sitting around a table listening to Jayne taking off each of the Eastenders characters and comparing them to “Please eat more peaches my sweet” and “Charles’ heart was far harder than Mark’s” was enormously entertaining but my shattered post-celebratory body was not up to the challenge.

At the end of the first day I sheepishly approached Jayne to apologise and explain. She, of course, found the whole thing very amusing and wanted to know the ins and outs of my partying. The next day was my birthday and the third of course I was even wearier.

Despite missing chunks of the course I returned to my job in Greenwich paediatric SLT department filled with ideas and inspirations and huge envy for Jayne’s ability to teach and entertain simultaneously.

She had ignited new thoughts and it was not long before I had contacted her and asked if she would come and work with a group of profoundly deaf signing children to help them discover their voices and the meaning of voice to children whose communication is manual.

Jayne embraced this challenge. This started our small team on a journey with Jayne which led to jointly published articles, an MSc dissertation, teaching in Scotland and London and a published article by a signing deaf child in ‘Opera now’. We had started on a small path and Jayne took us off into a number of unexpected routes. She imparted wisdom on voice work, psychotherapy, writing styles, the use of capitals and various less speechie topics including top tips for staying in Japan and the importance of great underwear.

Jayne was a bright light, vibrant warm and caring. She shone and certainly seemed to know her path in life, her direction, dreams and motivations. Those of us who met her are so blessed and will carry our memories of her with us.