In the beginning

Jean Miller was born on 15^th July 1892 in Transvaal South Africa. Not much is known about her early life and family background.

Coming to Kenya

Interestingly she and her future husband arrived in Kenya in the same year, 100 years ago in 1926.

Miss Jean Miller joined Limuru Girls’ School (Formally Hill Preparatory School in Kiambethu, Tigoni) as headmistress; serving until 1930. At the young age of 34, this was position was a testament of Froebel trained Jean’s qualifications.

Meeting Peter

Stanley (better known as Peter or Pa to Turians) Le Mesurier Lavers  worked on farm in Knights Hill (currently Red Hill, Tigoni)

Pa’s church choir had been practicing The Elijah, for which they practiced during singing evenings at friends’ houses in Limuru District . He was invited one evening and placed beside a lady (unsuspectingly). She was the new head mistress at the girls’ school in Limuru. He wasn’t keen on meeting ladies and “wasn’t interested in the normal things of marriage or anything like that”.

Their shared a keen interest in school – being both teachers. The future couple spoke at length through dinner and all evening about teaching and children that they didn’t realise the others had left the table and were singing. The meeting was planned by the host (a well known plumber friend) – they’d been trying to set Pa up with someone and he always refused.

According to Peter, The lord instructed him that he was to marry her. “Oh please Lord, anything but that. I don’t want to get married”.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

As it proved over time “This woman was straight from God”, said her husband.

• Froebel trained
• Had a vivid imagination
• Good Christian background
• Good knowledge of the bible

These qualities were good for the job they were to do together- build a Christian school.

The evening that Turi got on the map.

They met again at the girls school- joined her at the piano where she was singing hebridian songs. She had the most beautiful voice.

Peter met her mother and they got on well.

The two met regularly after.

She would visit Pa on her off day- Wednesday and hang out with pa and his dog Borzoi. The dog, like its owner loved her.

First comes a proposal, then comes a leopard, then comes marriage

Peter Lavers during one of their meetings or dates formerly proposed to Jean. Pa’s ford model T overheated and Pa went down to a stream and fetched water with his helmet and proposed then. It was a memorable proposal as the couple was nearly attacked by leopard.

As they spoke about the possibility of matrimonial union, Peter went to fetch another round of water and just as he screwed the radiator cap back on a leopard crashed onto the roof, splitting it. It leaped onto bonnet and disappeared into the night. The couple tied the knot on 5^th December 1930 in Dar-es-salaam at the Registrar’s office and witnessed by the Vicar of Kiambu and his wife. She exclaimed after they left that she wasn’t properly married to him- “where’s the ring?”… he put the ring on it over lemonade at a Greek bar.

They had a Christian ceremony later in Limuru.

Soon after came Turi

Planning for the school had been underway and in January of 1931 they officially opened the school. As their names suggest, they took on motherly and fatherly roles in addition to being educators. Pa took on the administrative and operational aspect of things while Ma was the chief educator and school ‘mother’. As in any family, there was a good-cop-bad-cop dynamic; she was the disciplinarian and her famous ‘steely grey-blue’ eyes were known to “inspire” compliance where the students were concerned while Pa was the easy-going one of the duo.

The fire that changed everything

On the morning of the fire, the children were singing count your blessings- Ma asked Pa where the blessings could possibly be in that situation are and he said ” all behind us, all safe” as all the children were safe then handed her teeth that she hadn’t realized all day that she didn’t have.

 

The Phoenix rising

During construction Ma held things up at the school single handedly as Pa was constantly on the move managing the construction process. They lived in a tent while construction took place

Those who watched them go through this process observed that they had in each other the ability to complete the team. During reconstruction Jean took on all internal responsibilities- Pa described her as “A brilliant woman and such a marvelous organizer and teacher” for being to hold everything together.

She is also remembered for her a gift of storytelling- she wrote and directed school plays, ensuring every student had a role.

 

Remembering Jean Lavers

• She had incredible consideration for everybody.
• If she ticked somebody off she purposed not to leave them feeling low but encouraged despite a telling off.
• Former pupils will remember mornings of taking out handkerchiefs, blowing noses and spanking themselves good for the rest of the day.
• Learning history dates using poetry. She made pupils go round the school in crocodile form, landing in the dining room singing history dates.

Jean Lavers passed away after her retirement from Turi which was prompted by  illness. She was buried at the Kisauni Cemetry.

Rest in Peace Ma Lavers.