When friends and family gathered to celebrate Jackie Upton-King’s 80th birthday on a weekend in Lyme Regis recently, they had no idea that it would be the last time they saw her. Later that evening she was suddenly taken ill with a serious stroke and sadly died, leaving those who knew her with a wealth of wonderful memories and achievements.
Jackie’s legacy is all over North Dorset. From The Exchange in Sturminster Newton to the establishment of the annual Civic Award in Shaftesbury, Jackie Upton-King touched many lives. Determined, driven and incredible are just a few words frequently used to describe her passion for community involvement. ‘She was amazing,’ says Jacqui Wragg from Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society.
Sturminster Newton councillor Pauline Batstone recalls how hard Jackie worked in the town: ‘Jackie was Practice Manager for the Stur Medical Centre before her retirement. She was one of the team involved in the early days of SturQuest, the community partnership initiated by North Dorset District Council. Stur was going through a bad patch as far as its economy was concerned, with low wages and a loss of job opportunities. Jackie was involved in the building of The Exchange on the former Market site and also the re-establishment of the medical centre there.’
When Jackie got involved in Sturminster Newton, the town was in a difficult place having just lost its famous cattle market. Robert Cowley was one of the driving forces behind the development of old site into what is now The Exchange: ‘The process that led to The Exchange took a full five years. It involved the bringing together of a wildly diverse group of organisations, represented by an equally diverse mix of individuals. A shared objective brought together many different strengths, at times in the face of some very significant opposition. Jackie and I worked together through some of the most difficult local politics.
‘No one person ever dominated the collective effort, and Jackie was notable for her ability to work with people and to make it possible for others to work together. She was always at the centre of the core team, calm under pressure, enthusiastic, well organised and determined.
‘Jackie would have agreed that if there was a key ingredient to the remarkable achievement that made The Exchange possible it was partnership. That can be very difficult to achieve and harder to maintain, especially between those who don’t agree in the first place. She was absolutely key in keeping the steering group together and focused on what became The Exchange, a major contribution to the history of Sturminster Newton.’
Jackie won an MBE for her work in the town, and when she got the letter from Downing Street she was moved to tears. Sturminster Newton had a major new development that was unique in a small country town, helping the community to move forward in a positive way.
When Jackie and her husband Norman moved to Shaftesbury, her drive and determination to improve things in her community continued. She became involved with Shaftesbury Arts Society, where she supported concerts with her love of music. She was also chair of the Shaftesbury Civic Society, where she soon got her teeth into several projects to improve the town. One was Project Belle, aimed at regenerating the old supermarket on Bell Street. Jackie scrutinised every proposal, from pedestrianising the area to attracting new businesses. Another was the Lidl development which she wanted to be a site in keeping with the town. Prior to the Civic Society being disbanded, Jackie established the Rachel Caldwell Annual Civic Award, an annual prize that recognises volunteer and community activity that makes a real difference in Shaftesbury. The award is now administered by the Rotary Club, celebrating unsung heroes in the town.
Jackie was also involved with Shaftesbury Abbey, cataloguing artefacts and working with others to maintain the historic site. Even when she became less mobile she took the computer home to work there. The Abbey plans to commemorate her contribution to the town with a memorial, a project which is to be confirmed.
Pauline Batstone summed up Jackie’s character: ‘She was a gentle but strong person, with a lovely sense of humour. I happened to bump into her and her husband Norman when I was delivering leaflets in Shaftesbury in the run-up to the election and we promised to have a coffee together after it was over. Sadly that was not to be.’
When you next visit Sturminster Newton or Shaftesbury and see the events and buildings that are created and cared for by volunteers, a physical reminder of a vibrant community spirit, remember Jackie Upton King and the difference she made across the Blackmore Vale.
