Paralympian and Scottish Disability Sport Hall of Fame member Valerie Robertson was in touch earlier this evening to inform me that the most influential Scot in the development of international disability sport has passed away in Aylesbury.
The funeral will be held on Monday 18th February at 1200 noon at Warriston Crematorium, Warriston Road, Edinburgh EH7 4HW.
Jean Stone MBE was a founder member of the Scottish Paraplegic Association, the Scottish Sports Association for the Disabled (SSAD, now SDS) and the development of Stoke Mandeville as a world renowned centre of excellence for international disability sport.
Jean was heavily involved with the Third Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Edinburgh in 1970 and served the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as a volunteer for decades. There has never been a more respected figure in disability sport and all of us in Scotland who were influenced by and learned from her have much to thank her for. Jean Stone was an exceptional lady and Scottish Disability Sport recognised the importance of Jean in the development of sport in Scotland by honouring her with the title of Honorary Vice President.
Following her attendance at the National Stoke Mandeville Games in the summer of 1962, Jean wrote to the Secretary of State to ask for “recognition of the Welfare and Sporting Activities of the disabled” in Scotland. Jean was writing in her capacity as Secretary of the Scottish Paraplegic Association (SPA) and with support from the founding father of disability sport, Sir Ludwig Guttmann. Jean managed to arrange a meeting with representatives from the Scottish Education Department and Scottish Home and Health Department in the autumn of 1962 as a first stage to establishing a sports organisation in Scotland that was representative of all impairment groups.
The favoured approach at the time was to establish a Scottish Branch of the British Sports Association for the Disabled (BSAD) and this was the outcome of the inaugural meeting attended by 18 representatives from 15 organisations concerned with the welfare of disabled people, at the Simon Square Centre in Edinburgh on Monday 24th June 1963.
The First Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were held in Perth, Western Australia in 1962 and the Second Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, in Kingston, Jamaica in 1966. On examining the records of the time it is impossible not to be impressed by the massive effort that went in to fundraising for training and travel and the number of volunteers that were required to support Scottish teams travelling overseas.
In 1963 the National Stoke Mandeville Games were held at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh and also in the 60’s a Scotland v England wheelchair basketball competition was staged in front of the bandstand in Princes Street Gardens during the Edinburgh International Festival, attracting spectators from home and overseas. Strong successful Scottish teams coordinated by Jean Stone competed annually in the National Stoke Mandeville Games and Scotland was always represented in significant numbers in the GB Team for the International Stoke Mandeville Games. By 1966 the Scottish Paraplegic Association was sending 20 members to the Stoke Mandeville Games by air with appropriate numbers of support staff.
By 1968 lack of funding had become an issue. The Scottish Education Department grant remained at £120 but there was great excitement as the 1970 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games planned for Edinburgh drew nearer. Scotland’s first sports centre at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow encouraged inclusivity and it was reported that the Chairman had engaged with the architects of Meadowbank and the Royal Commonwealth Pool to ensure the east followed the example of the west. The Thistle Foundation was well established as an example of a disability sports hub and the Scottish Paraplegic Association(SPA) continued to promote and develop wheelchair sports and produce athletes of excellence.
A Special Meeting was called for Monday 3rd August 1970 at 17.00 hrs. in the Simon Square Centre in Edinburgh to change the name of the Association to the Scottish Sports Association for the Disabled(SSAD), amend the constitution and create an independent Association for Scotland. Jean Stone and others had campaigned vigorously for Scottish autonomy and finally their efforts had paid off. At the AGM in April 1972 the new constitution of SSAD was approved and the relationship with BSAD was settled.
Jean Stone and the late Bob Mitchell were the driving forces behind the establishment and development of disability sport in Scotland throughout their lives.
I was privileged to spend almost a full day with Jean last year at her home in Edinburgh. The occasion was to celebrate the life of the late John Clark who had recently passed away. I thought I knew a lot about Jean but that day I learned so much more. Her passion and commitment to disability sport were exceptional and long lasting. Jean touched the hearts of many and championed the cause of so many athlete members of the SPA, SSAD and SDS.
Jean was a private person but had so many contacts in every corner of the world. She was an exceptional politician, amazing administrator and such an expert in so many aspects of wheelchair sports in particular. Has there ever been a more influential volunteer? I doubt it.
Thank you Jean for your friendship and expertise. Your legacy will always be everything that is special about Scottish Disability Sport in 2019.
Richard Brickley MBE
Photo courtesy of WheelPower
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