Juliet was born into a very different generation and time from today. Her father, James Forrest was born in 1900, and her mother Sheila Forrest was born in 1903. She herself was born in 1937 at their flat in Hurlingham, weighing a sound 8lb 9oz.
In 1939 the family moved across the river to Putney to a larger house in Holmbush Road. They lived there throughout the Second World War. It was a busy household, filled with refugees and local bombed out families.
When Juliet was 10 they then moved up the road to 2 Montolieu Gardens where they lived for almost 50 years. The door was always open and Montolieu Gardens became a haven of peace and safety for many family and friends. Juliet herself moved back there in the late 80’ to help look after her parents until Sheila Forrest died in 1995. Her Father sadly passed away in 1987
Juliet met Leonard Greene in 1957 and they were married at Victoria Hall, Wandsworth Common on 25th July 1959. They had a modest reception in the garden at Montolieu Gardens surrounded by family and friends. Len was 23 and Juliet was 22.
Len served his National Service in Gibraltar during their first 2 years of marriage. They began married life living with Len’s parents in their house in Whetstone until they moved to their own flat in New Barnet and began a family of their own.
Charles was born in Barnet General Hospital on 29th December 1961 and Jacquie was born at home on 1st February 1963
While they lived in Barnet they joined Christ Church, Barnet, where they met Gregor & Barbara Macintosh, and Brian & Barbara Wall. They continued to be life-long friends. Barbara kindly looked after Charles and Jacquie with her children Ian and Ruth whilst Juliet went to Barnet Tech to do dressmaking. Juliet and Len were Godparents to both Ruth Macintosh and Debbie Wall.
In 1963 the family moved to Bourneville, Birmingham where Len trained to be a probation officer and in 1965 they moved to 3 Marlborough Close in Burbage, Leicestershire. This was a new house on a new housing estate, full of young families.
Charles and Jacquie had very happy early years there. They made many more close family friends including Ron and Margrete Brown and the Woods family.
Len and Juliet were active members of the Higham Way Baptist Church and Juliet trained to be a primary school teacher..
In the late 60’s Len’s parents moved from Barnet, London to Banwell near Weston Super Mare. After Len’s father died in the early 70’s the family decided to move closer to Len’s Mum.
Len found a new position as a Probation Officer at Gloucester Prison, and they found a house called Kites Nest in Blakeney in the Forest of Dean.
Charles and Jacquie went to primary school in Blakeney and then to Whitecross Comprehensive school.
Kites Nest became a beautiful family home.
Higham Way Baptist Church would have their annual outings to The Forest of Dean and a coach load of our old friends would turn up to a full English breakfast, have their picnics on our lawn.
Len and Juliet worked tirelessly on the house and garden, growing fruit and vegetables, keeping hens, geese and bees.
They were active members of the local community and attended Awre Parish Church where they became keen bell ringers. They had a busy social life, played bridge with friends and were members of the Awre Horticultural Society.
Juliets marriage to Len had difficulties in the early 80’s with Len moving out and them getting divorced. Juliet and Jacquie temporarily moved to Watford so Juliet could study at the London Bible College. Jacquie went with her and continued with her A levels, Charles stayed at Kites Nest.
Juliet, now only in her early 40’s, fully embraced College life and made many more life-long friends.
After finishing Bible College, Kites Nest was sold and Juliet made a new home in Bream, still in the Forest of Dean. She was very active in the local church working with youth groups.
Juliet also spent some time with her parents in Putney whilst attending secretarial school in South Moulton Street.
Juliet moved again from Bream to Horsham in the early 1980’s, where she worked for a newly formed Bible college at Roffey Place as secretary to Rev Colin Urquhart and Michael Barling.
She then moved to Emmanuel House Norwich, where she still continued to work for the Kingdom Faith Church.
During this time she would travel back to Putney on the weekends to look after her elderly parents.
When Juliet’s Mother could no longer live by herself, Juliet moved back to Putney in 1990 and stayed with her mother until she eventually went to a Nursing home and died in 1995. Juliet then bought a flat in Oakhill Road, Putney.
Whilst Juliet was in Putney she worked at various secretarial jobs and was an active member of St Stephen’s Church East Putney.
This move back to Putney coincided with Jacquie getting engaged, married and having children. Jacquie and John lived just down the road in Wimbledon. Juliet became the very “hands-on” and supportive mother and grandmother to her new and expanding family.
Juliet has 5 grandchildren, Christopher and Katherine (twins), Emily, James and Miles, all born between 1992 and 1996.
She loved reading and singing and knew many children’s songs by heart which she would often recount to the Grandchildren. Favourites were AA Milne and Beatrix Potter.
Juliet made the most of living in London and would regularly go to the theatre and ballet. She often took her Grandchildren to the Prom and loved taking Katherine to the Ballet.
In addition to devoting herself to her family she also helped and supported many other families and organisations both here and abroad.
She would regularly volunteer and support the work of CMJ both in the UK and in Jerusalem
She loved going to Israel and volunteered at the historical Anglican mission known as “The Church’s Ministry to the Jewish People”. This is located just inside the Old City of Jerusalem near the Jaffa Gate, a place known as Christ Church. She would work mainly for the church, the guesthouse and the library.
Juliet loved to travel, particularly around Canada and the USA, often visiting family and friends, including her cousin Nick and his family when she could.
She enjoyed the book and the film of “The Bridges of Madison County” so much that she visited the house and every single bridge.
“The Little House on the Prairie” was also a childhood favourite and she made a special trip there too.
Another stop would be with her friends Ian and Naomi for an extended winter stay to help them with their Christian Youth and Family camps.
In 2000 Juliet remarried Len, left Putney and moved to Yew Tree House, Popes Hill. Len planned to retire, and they had great plans for further travel.
They spent their honeymoon in Italy and made a long trip to the USA to include “The Grand Canyon”.
Sadly this was short lived when Len died suddenly in 6 months later.
Juliet found herself with an opportunity to move again and chose to move to Farnham to be closer Jacquie and John and the grandchildren to support them.
Whilst in Farnham she continued to be a very active and supportive Grandma but also found time to volunteer with many local charities.
She joined Jubilee Church and became very active in the Farnham Christian community, working with both the youth and the elderly.
The list of volunteer roles and activities she immersed herself in are endless. She was always busy, worked hard and always had a smile on her face.
