You could sense the grief and desolation of loss in every flower left near to the spot where Carolyn Jobson died.
“Words cannot express how saddened we are to lose you,” wrote one family on a floral tribute.
In every word, on every tribute was a fond memory of a lady who genuinely cared and whose death has overwhelmed her family, colleagues and friends.
Clearly Carolyn, through her work as a school secretary, as a parish council clerk and as a friend to many will be missed on so many different levels.
“You was amazing lady who was there for me,” said another floral tribute near to the spot where she died only a couple of days previous. “You was truly inspirational: RIP Mrs Jobson”.
It was a tribute written with such sincerity that only someone whose life she had touched so deeply could have composed.
“A lady who gave so much taken before her time,” was the simple but heartfelt words of another.
It is ironic in a way that Carolyn’s roles in both spheres of life – as the clerk to a parish council and as a school secretary- were hidden from public gaze. But their importance was at the forefront of those coming forward to honour her memory.
Chronicling the minutiae of parish life in Wisbech St Mary and as secretary at Elm C of E School never put her in the firing line for attention but that is not to undermine her stature or relevance. Indeed the richness of the tribute from parish council chairman Brian Payne sums it up with poignancy and fondness.
“She served the council with distinction, “said Mr Payne, identifying the contribution Carolyn had made to the smooth running of village affairs.
And the head of Elm school, Fiona McCallum, brought Carolyn’s value both as a person and staff member together in this fulsome tribute.
“Carolyn was a hugely respected and highly valued member of staff. She was committed, hard-working and well-loved by staff, children and parents.
“She was at the heart of the school for the past 22 years.”
There will be many in coming days who will stop either to place flowers at the spot where she died and to reflect on the a quiet, unassuming but extraordinarily well loved lady.
We pray that their tears, tributes and sincere condolences bring comfort, however small, to her family as they come to terms with her tragic and unexpected death.
Carolyn was killed on Thursday evening when her cycle was in collision with a car in Friday Bridge Road.
In a matter of days it’s a journey she would probably not have been making since her retirement from Elm school was a matter of a week away.
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