We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jean Symons, who died peacefully in her sleep on 29 October, aged 90.
In 2014 Jean Symons was interviewed as part of the AAXX100 series and extracts from the oral interview are included here. Speaking of her younger years, Jean recalls thinking to herself that she would love to help reconstruct England when the war was over and so decided to pursue architecture as her career. Jean started at the AA in the summer of 1945 and within a few weeks was rushed to Buckingham Palace for the announcement of the end of the war. Jean also recalls that the first lecture she had at the AA was “how to sharpen a pencil” followed by a task to produce a measured drawing of the fireplace in the front member’s room.
In October 1949, instead of starting her 5th year, Jean decided she needed practical experience working on a construction site before graduating and managed to secure work on the construction of the Royal Festival Hall. During the 15 months she was there, Jean saw the building nearly completed and describes it as the best job she ever had. Her recollections were published in an article “Concert Hall notebook: a record of fifteen months on site” in AA Files 40, in which she recalls anecdotes from the Royal Festival Hall opening ceremony, including being stuck in the lift with the Mayor of London while the ceremony was taking place.
After graduating Jean fell ill and was hospitalised for a whole winter and in August 1953 she married the doctor that had treated her. Jean went on to have an incredible career including lecturing and publishing research on the design of healthcare buildings and the needs of handicapped people. She also worked at the AA from 1968 – 1971 as Assistant Director for the Centre for Advanced Studies and Environment (CASE).