Jean worked as an interior designer for over forty years. She is a retired member of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario, known in the industry as A.R.I.D.O. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Jean was raised in Toronto, Ontario by her loving grandparents Grace and Thomas Bignell from Bristol, England. Reginald and Jean were married in 1958; they raised one daughter and two sons. How fortunate they are to have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Reginald owns his own contracting company, now in its 60 th year of business. With his expertise in repairing and rebuilding, and Jean's eye for colour, together they have renovated and decorated over twenty older houses. Over the years, this became their weekend hobby. Some people love to golf or play bridge, but breathing life back into older homes is a natural endeavour for Jean and Reginald. When they purchased Glencairn Hall in 2004, they knew that this would be the largest project they would ever attempt. But the great architectural features were already present. Ultimately they enjoyed every minute of this immense project, and feel that they have accomplished an important task for their community. Niagara on the Lake has become a very special place to Jean and Reginald. This book is part history, with stories about the prominent people who resided here at Glencairn Hall. Jean chronicles the lives, passions, and heritage of former owners who originated from Scotland, England, and Hong Kong. This book is also part restoration, part interior design, and part description of the beautiful gardens in "pink".
