ALTON School bid a fond farewell last month to a much loved centenarian, Sister Cecilia.

Cecilia Bessie Jackson was born in April 1919, the daughter of Jimmy Jackson, a local gamekeeper, and his wife Cecilia Rose, parlour maid at Complins in Holybourne.

Cecilia had a rural upbringing and developed a great lifelong love of the countryside and wildlife. She was also devoted to the service of people in many different capacities.

A keen member of the Girl Guiding movement, in around 1965 Cecilia volunteered to help the nuns at Alton Convent School set up a Guide company. Through this experience, and the new friends she made, Cecilia became interested in the Catholic faith and eventually joined the Order of the Sisters of Providence.

She remained a Sister in the Alton community for the rest of her long life, contributing immensely to the growth of the school.

She loved books and worked constantly to make the school’s library an enticing place for pupils.

According to the school: “Former pupils remember her with great fondness and thank her for their love of reading. They believe she was instrumental in creating the loving and accepting atmosphere of the school.”

Sister Cecilia passed away on December 21 and on January 15, the Sisters of the Order of Providence, members of the Alton School community, friends and family members gathered for a Funeral Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, and afterwards to celebrate her life.