Pride of Guernsey: Jean Thoumine

JEAN THOUMINE is the glue that has held her family together, according to granddaughter, Hannah Young, who has nominated her for the Grandparent/s of the Year award, sponsored by The Channel Islands Co-operative Society.

She said that Mrs Thoumine would look after her and siblings Hollie Galliers and Christina and Gabrielle Payne whenever they were off school sick so that their mother could go to work.
‘When we couldn’t afford things we needed, she always made sure we didn’t go without,’ she said.
Though Mrs Thoumine is now 87, she remains the best nan she could be.
‘Over the last year especially before the arrival of my last son she was like my rock,’ said Ms Young. ‘Due to pregnancy complications I had to attend regular doctor/hospital/specialist appointments and without her I would have never made it to them all, with my other son.’
Over the years Mrs Thoumine has also knitted clothes for premature babies at the hospital, done the flower arranging at Forest Church and gone out of her way to do things for others whenever she could.