Janet, 60, loses fight against motor neurone disease
Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 09:08


BRIXHAM restaurateur Janet Clark, formerly of Pilgrims, has died of motor neurone disease at the age of 60.
A stalwart of the port's Heritage Festival, the Friends of Furzeham Green and Brixham Action Team, the former nurse was a keen volunteer for community causes.
Her husband of 38 years, Chris, said: "A lot of people knew her not just from Pilgrims, but from the time she worked at Brixham Bouquets, Glovers the chemist and the café Nibbles.
"She finally lost her fight against this dreadful disease at Rowcroft Hospice and I can't thank the staff there enough, or the team at Compass House at Brixham, for their care."
The mother of two, who originally trained as an state registered nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, moved with her husband from London to Brixham 10 years.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF% 3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISSDEV/AREA%3DNEWS/SUBAREA%3DHOME/ARTICLE%3D397218/acc_random%3D646907538/pageid%3D/RS%3D%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%2 2http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20 style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3EThey opened Pilgrims in Fore Street in partnership with their chef son, Simon.
The Clarks' daughter Liz recently flew home from her pharmacology job in Australia to spend time with her ailing mother.
Chris added: "The last few months have been very tough, especially after Janet lost her speech and then being unable to swallow."
Friend Pat Osborn, the Heritage Festival coordinator, said: "We will all miss her. She was such a quiet and elegant woman, who charmed all the restaurant diners. Our families became very close through all three generations."
It was the second recent tragedy for the Clarks. Janet's elderly mother was killed suddenly in a head-on crash near Totnes after another vehicle collided with the one she was in.
Chris added: "All Janet's family and friends are invited to the service at Torquay Crematorium on Thursday at 2pm.
"We have asked anyone who would like to donate in her memory to give to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This can either be at the service, which is being conducted by Peter Haywood, or via Stockmans funeral directors in Brixham