Jean Carr, 1944 – 2020

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

By now you will have been informed of the death of our dear friend and colleague Jean Carr, who died suddenly of fast moving, terminal cancer.

To say that Jean was a very special person would be an understatement. Not only did she combine a very keen mind which included much experience in organisations, she had a capacity for pithy comments and observations about people and situations that also included empathic understanding of their situations and points of view. Her intelligence and wit created a particular combination of wisdom and precision.

Jean and I enjoyed a long friendship. We trained and qualified together in 1977, as Jungian analysts at what was then the BAP, sharing an interest in Jungian thinking that was not always similar, although we rarely found ourselves in any disputes about matters of importance. Our professional paths followed different routes. Having already done a stint in a volunteering programme abroad, she returned to England to train as a psychiatric social worker at Guys Hospital where she became a principal. Our friendship began after qualifying when she suggested that we subscribe to an opera series, from whence was born my lifelong love of opera. In return, I introduced her to the delights of the South of France during Summer holidays.

After she spent a number of years at the Guys Hospital, she accepted an important post in Oxford Social Services as Assistant Director with particular responsibility for Learning Difficulties & Supported Living. When she decided to retire, she accepted a position as trustee on the Board of the British Psychotherapy Foundation, quickly becoming Chair of the BPF at the time of her death.

Jean reached out to many colleagues in the organisations she was involved in. One which was particularly dear to her heart was her involvement in the training analysis and supervision of a number IAAP Polish routers,  from whom we have received outpourings of sadness and grief at her loss. She clearly made a big impression on the group, which has now become a full Group Member of IAAP. This can be considered an enormous achievement by her as well as by them.

I have had the honour to speak with a number of Jean’s family including her brother Ken, her niece Ann and others. The family have made special arrangements which will allow those of us that are able to, to participate in the celebration of her life. Jean and her nephew, Ivan were very close. After Jean’s beloved cat died, she was inconsolable and Ivan consoled her every day with a phone call which meant a lot to her. 

Hester Solomon

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