This tribute was delivered by Rosemary and Liz Janet’s daughter’s on 24 February 2026
in grateful memory of their inspiring mother
Janet’s Story
To begin, as we wave goodbye to Janet, let me paint a picture of what truly mattered to her: her husband Jim; her family and friends; the farm and her horses.
Mum, Granny Janet or Mrs. Miller as she was so often known, was born in 1932 in the Cottage Hospital in Hampton the only child of Carl and Violet Lovegrove. During her wartime childhood her father’s engineering business was busy with the war effort and her mother was very seriously ill, leaving Janet very much to her own devices.
She was encouraged to be outdoors and with her pony Shadow, she loved to explore. They would spend long days galloping along the riverside at Runnymede and sneaking through a hole in the fence at Painshill Park to have picnics in the secret grotto. With Shadow, Janet tasted freedom and fostered a sense of independence and self-reliance that stayed with her all her life.
She attended Oakfield Prep School at Virginia Water during the war and later, Sir William Perkins’s in Chertsey where she loved singing, ballet, and art. She gained an impressive grasp of the English language, frequently coming out with words which sent you running for the dictionary to find out what she meant. Redoubtable is a good word to describe her.
After school, Janet declared she would work with horses, but her father, famously, tore up her letter of application claiming it was ‘no job for a lady” and packed her off to Technical College in Guildford to study commercial law and bookkeeping. Although Janet was furious, she later conceded that it was jolly helpful being a good at business when it came to the farm accounts.
Mum worked as a punch card operator for the very first main frame computers in the early 1950’s. To keep her connection with the countryside she joined the Young Farmers Club. She admitted that one day rather than take the minutes of the meeting, as instructed, she found herself wistfully sketching the very handsome and charismatic Vice President of Guildford Young Farmers …a certain Mr Jim Miller. It was love at first sight.
They married in 1955 and embarked on their dream of farming together at Loseberry Farm. Starting with just five Ayrshire cows and a grey Fergie tractor Jim and Janet were a great team. Together they grew the farm business to 350 milking cows adding a second dairy herd at Slyfield Farm and taking on Manor, Lower Manor, the Lady Place Farms.
Being a farmer suited Janet. She was a morning person, up with the lark, with boundless energy, and was very hands-on, milking cows, driving tractors and growing cornflowers.She was very observant, which made her a brilliant stockman, and animals in her care always thrived. She had good practical skills, butchering game, chopping wood, keeping bees, baking Swiss rolls and typing loudly on an Olivetti typewriter.
Janet’s enthusiasm for her farming life never waned and she did not retire. Nothing made her happier than sitting on the combine harvester watching the golden grain pour into the trailers. She was happy at Loseberry Farm for 71 years and was still driving around with Andrew every week to inspect the farms, age 93.
Farm life enabled Janet to return to her love of horses. Many here will remember, Janet as the iconic District Commissioner of Sandown Chase Branch of the Pony Club in its 1970’s heyday. She literally led from the front, riding ahead of the Pony Club picnic ride to Mickleham with 40 children galloping behind. There were summer camps in tented stables on the farm, working rallies, mounted games and shows. Janet was very inclusive, ensuring that all children, whatever their ability or background, were welcome.
She rode for joy and was essentially non-competitive but did once accidentally qualify for the European Championships of Le Trec, a horse orienteering competition, and took her horse to France to represent the UK where she won the championship for the fittest horse.
As the Bridleways Officer for Surrey, Janet rode to inspect paths which were being illegally blocked and represented the horse riders at public inquiries. Many of the rides in Surrey are still open due to Janet’s diligence. She enthusiastically led working parties clearing overgrown bridleways, and when the A3 cut through Esher Common in the 1970’s, she campaigned for the horse bridges to be built. The British Horse Society honoured her for 30 years of loyal service with their Award of Merit.
In her sixties Janet gave up hunting with the Surrey Union thinking carriage driving may be safer at her age. She ran a much-loved driving event at Slyfield with a beautiful course through the River Mole. However, after several spectacular carriage driving mishaps, which, some here may recall, she declared that perhaps hunting was safer after all and returned to it.
Janet undertook epic long distant rides from the north coast of Wales to the south coast of England. Always dressed in a neat hacking jacket and jodhpurs, she bemoaned the fact that the art of looking elegant on a horse had been ruined by modern puffa jackets. Janet rode into her 80’s and always looked after her own horse, pushing the stable wheelbarrow with the vigour of a teenager.
If Janet was a horse, she would, of course, be a thoroughbred. Lively, energetic, forward-going, high-spirited, quick, courageous, and with great beauty and style.
Janet’s Character
Mum was a devoted wife and her love for Jim was everlasting. From their love-at-first sight meeting though 58 years of marriage, her love for Jim never wavered. They had an unstinting partnership, farming together and sharing their lives with each other at their beloved Loseberry Farm.
Her happiness was also anchored in her deep and unshakable Christian faith, being a founding member of the United Reformed Church in Woking, with Jim, 72 years ago. She loved the church all her life, especially organ music, and in later years enjoyed the online services, marvelling at the new technology.
She had great fortitude and quietly served the local community by helping run Claygate Care, a service for the elderly, for 35 years.
Janet was a wonderful mother, and all four of us children were born at Loseberry Farm with the midwife arriving on a bicycle. As a Mother Janet was formidable and ran a very tight ship. The rules were very clear, and should you fall short, Janet’s forthright tellings off, which I’m sure many people here may recall, were legendary. Janet, however, never held a grudge. She cleared the air and moved on quickly.
Janet was an exemplary Mother-in-Law and fun granny, always playing football on the big lawn with the grandchildren and the dogs. She was a strong believer in learning by doing, even a walk to the village along her favourite path would entail identifying all the wildflowers along the route.
She was in touch with the younger generation queuing at midnight to get the latest Harry Potter book for her grandchildren, and enjoying birthdays – singing loudly, and blowing out candles on her musical birthday plate.
Janet had a zest for life and never lost her childlike curiosity or sense of wonder. Her enthusiasm and willingness to participate in exciting and daring events brought enormous happiness to her life and to all those who she touched. She loved sunshine, travelled extensively to New Zealand and Australia and enjoyed wintering in Lanzarote with Jim when the farm allowed. Always keen for excitement, Janet flew on Concord, went on a roller coaster at Alton Towers aged 82, and was proud to be presented to King Charles at Windsor Castle just 9 months ago, as the longest standing Crown Estate tenant – with 71 years at Loseberry Farm. She described the day as “a Simply Marvellous Occasion” – her favourite expression.
Janet lived a long and happy life and in her final years reflected on it with contentment. She witnessed remarkable changes from a 1930’s childhood to the internet age which she took in her very brisk stride.
Janet was a great character, a true countryman and a tour de force. She leaves a legacy of powerful leadership and independent thought, coupled with unhesitating action.
She loved the hustle and bustle of her life at Loseberry Farm. She was always slightly astonished that so many people wanted to visit her in her final years – unaware of her attraction, influence and power, which never diminished. She was positive and fun, creating happy memories at the farm for so many people here today.
When it was time for visitors to leave Loseberry Janet would always say cheerio and “I will come and give you a wave”. She would stand at the bottom of the drive and wave goodbye until you were over the hill and out of sight. She waved with a full arm and great enthusiasm, often with double arms.
So now it is our turn to wave goodbye. Mum loved everyone here, so please could we all raise a hand, or two, high and with enthusiasm, as Janet would have done – and let us wave cheerio to Janet.
Farewell Janet – here’s to a life well lived.