Jacqui Mitchell (1985)

Jacqui Mitchell - May 1966 – September 2024, age 58

J. Mitchell (1985), (MA, PGCE) aged 58.  Jacqui Mitchell was born in Bangor, County Down in May 1966, daughter of Maureen and Jack, and elder sister to Elaine.  She was christened at West Church.  Her family attended Hamilton Presbyterian Church - and she became an officer of the Girls Brigade.  Jacqui won a place at Glenlola Grammar school - and first visited Queens’ College on a school trip, when she fell in love with the place.  She excelled in school, and earned a place to read Mathematics at Queens’, and a year’s sponsorship with British Nuclear Fuels at Sellafield.  It was during this year, away from home for the first time, that Jacqui showed signs of the Eating Disorders and Mental Health issues that she battled - with varying degrees of success - for the rest of her life.  She completed Part 1A of the Mathematics Tripos at the end of her first year, before switching to read Computer Science.  She had an active social life and was a member of the Christian Union throughout her time at the college.  She enjoyed sport and played hockey and coxed one of the men’s boats in the Lent bumps.  Graduating in 1988, Jacqui trained as an accountant with PWC, where she met Stuart - whom she later married.  Jacqui always wanted children and became a devoted mother of 4 – Katie, James, Chloe and Emily – whom she dearly loved.  She supported her children in all their activities and encouraged them throughout their studies – helping them to realise their full potential.  She organised dance shows and became treasurer of the swimming club.  Her love of the outdoors included gardening, walking and running – and she remained active in sport taking part in the Great North Run, the Dublin Marathon, and trekking.  Her love of children and mathematics contributed to her decision to change career - returning to Queens’ in 2005 to train in Secondary Mathematics, she became a successful and dedicated teacher.  She returned to Northern Ireland for the last 10 years of her life tutoring in mathematics, and contributed greatly to her local community. Sadly Jacqui was unable to overcome her eating disorders which eventually cut short her life.  In her last wishes Jacqui wanted to raise awareness of Eating Disorders and Mental Health Illnesses and hoped this might help save others from the many difficulties she bravely faced.