Tributes paid to much-loved Harrogate woman who delighted TV and theatre audiences with her showstopping performances

Family and friends have been sharing their fond memories of Meriel Jennifer Hynes, who has sadly died at the age of 91 after leading an extremely rich and fulfilling life - her zest for seizing every day and living life to the full continues to be a source of inspiration for her loved ones and all those who had the privilege of knowing or working with her.

Jennifer's boundless energy, passion and enthusiasm for the theatre became infectious, and her raft of roles over the years included Assistant Stage Manager role at the Opera House (now known as Harrogate Theatre), with the resident repertory company, The White Rose Players, with whom she clocked up a wide array of key roles and achieved many glowing reviews - so much so that she became a firm favourite with the delighted audiences.

Later in life it wasn't uncommon for her to be recognised in the streets by people who remembered her from her long theatre stints. Always humble and modest about her contributions, Jennifer was really quite understated about her exploits, despite going on to star in a number of ratings-dominating TV shows - including All Creatures Great and Small, Emmerdale Farm, and Coronation Street.

She also shared the stage with many greats over the years, including the revered Sir John Mills - acting alongside him in A Tale of Two Cities.

Jennifer was born in Harrogate on October 28, 1928, to Stella and Peter Barker, a socialite mother and hotelier father. Her early years were spent in the town mostly with her mother and grandfather, Charles Edward Mackay, whose father together with his six sons, were the proprietors of Mackays’ garage on West Park, which later became Kennings and is now a residential and commercial building housing flats and shops.

At the tender age of five, Jennifer was sent to school at a convent in Hendon and was often driven to school to start the new term by her grandfather from Harrogate. Even in those days, he somehow managed to do the return trip in a day.

As the war years intensified, Jennifer used to tell stories of how the girls at the school, together with the nuns, watched German bombers carrying out their nightly raids on the capital.

These were frightening times which led to the school being evacuated to Cirencester, where she continued her education for a few years before being brought closer to home, attending St Monica’s Convent in Skipton where she completed her schooling and left with a Higher Diploma in hand.

As well as juggling a rich tapestry of theatre commitments, Jennier busied herself socialising around town, playing tennis at The Sports Club on Firs Road, and walking her much-loved Scottish terrier.

As Spring turned to summer, Jennier fell in love with her beloved husband Andrew, whom she first met a dance at The Old Swan Hotel in 1952. At the time he lived with his parents in Bradford and was employed in the wool trade as a wool sorter learning the industry.

He played for Bradford 1st XV, and after his rugby on Saturdays would get the bus over from Bradford on evenings and again mid-week to go and visit the apple of his eye, who was performing on stage.

They would catch a quick drink together after the performance before he would need to jump on the last bus back home to Bradford. Love blossomed, and on May 24, 1954, they married at St Robert’s Church in Harrogate.

She was attended by four bridesmaids and their best man, John Cotton. Following the wedding breakfast at The Granby Hotel, they honeymooned at Le Lavendou in the South of France.

As a married couple they lived with her grandfather at Dene Wood on Hookstone Drive - Andrew advancing in the wool trade and changing his rugby allegiance to Harrogate Rugby Club, where as a couple and family, many happy hours were spent socialising with friends, who remained lifelong to her.

Their union brought three children into the world; Stella Ann, Stephen Richard and Sean Edward, who have provided her with the blessing and gift of ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Andrew died in 1989, at the age of 61, and Jennifer did not re-marry. She enjoyed her life with her friends, her Italian walking holidays, church-going and her infamous wire-haired fox terriers. On many occasions she would be seen chasing them up and down a busy Hookstone Drive, trying to get her beloved dogs back on their leads whilst simultaneously avoiding any fatalities with the traffic. It was not unusual to see her on the railway tracks close to Stray Rein trying to coax them back onto their leads.

Jennifer's son Stephen said: "My mother was a very charitable person and in her lifetime had been associated with many charities - one that comes to mind was the Helpers of St Theresa. She had many friends from all circles of life and remained loyal to them as long as she was physically able.

"She loved socialising with friends and family, and a lasting memory of her love for both was that somehow after the annual, rather lively, Christmas drinks party with friends at home, with her very equally generous husband Andrew, she would gallantly take on keeping all their guests plied with Christmas cheers whilst simultaneously managing to produce a roast turkey with all the trimmings for the after party family Christmas dinner. Quite an achievement in the light of the very ‘social occasions’ these always were."

On October 28, 2018, Jennifer celebrated her 90th birthday with a magnificent party at the Harrogate Theatre bar surrounded by family and friends who adored her - a place which has hardly changed since the days she spent, in the early 50’s, catching a post-performance drink with her husband-to-be before the last bus left for Bradford.

In early 2019, Jennifer moved to the Granby Care Home where Stephen said she was looked after royally by an excellent care team until her peaceful death on March 25.