Jean Stone Exhibition

This exhibition celebrates the pioneering role that Jean Stone MBE played in the Paralympic Movement, and in the development of disability sport in the UK and internationally. It features reflections and artwork from a series of creative workshops with students from Alfriston School, local volunteers and the team at NPHT, led by artist Naomi Westerman.

The community curation and exhibition has been made possible with the generous support of the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation and is part of a wider project supported by the National Archives.

In March 2025, the National Paralympic Heritage Trust was awarded the ‘Archives Revealed’ grant from the National Archives for their cataloguing project: ‘The Jean Stone Collection - celebrating influential women in the Paralympic Movement’. Over the last 8 months, volunteers led by a project archivist, have catalogued over 100 boxes of documents, photographs and objects preserved by Jean, offering a unique insight into her role within the Paralympic Movement. Jean donated her personal collection to WheelPower, British Wheelchair Sport who have loaned it to the NPHT to carry out this important work. Some of this collection features in part of this exhibition.

Jean Stone's career spanned five decades from the 1950s. She was a founding member of the Scottish Paraplegic Association and the Scottish Sports Association for the Disabled and played a pivotal role in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games of 1970. Her work contributed to the organisation of several Paralympic Games from 1960 to the 2000s and Jean was subsequently awarded the 'Paralympic Order', in honour of her incredible contribution to the Paralympic Movement.

Details

Monday 18 May - Monday 1st June

Free entry

Unit 16, Friars Square Shopping Centre, Aylesbury, HP20 2QF 

Opening Times

Monday to Saturday: 9.00am until 5.30pm

Sundays: 10.30am until 4.30pm

For access guidance please visit: https://www.accessable.co.uk/aylesbury/access-guides/friars-square-shopping-centre

Monday 2nd March - Wednesday 13th May

Free entry

Wycombe Arts Centre, Desborough Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2PU

Opening Times

Monday to Sunday: 10am until 3pm

Opening times may vary according to the venue’s scheduled events. Please view their listed events to find out more: https://wycombeartscentre.com/plan-your-visit/ or call ahead on 01494 445517. 

This exhibition has been made possible with the generous support of the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation.

‘Archives Revealed’ is a collaborative funding programme between The National Archives, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust and the Wolfson Foundation, dedicated to cataloguing and unlocking archival collections in the UK – the only grant programme in the UK with this purpose.

Audio description of gallery contents

Exhibit 1

Exhibition Intro

Exhibit 2

Carrying on Jean's Legacy

Exhibit 3

Hear from NPHT volunteers and staff, and Paralympian Mari Durward-Akhurst

Exhibit 4

2026 Underwater Series

Haiku for Jean Stone

Exhibit 5

Alfriston School

Exhibit 6

'Your One Place'

Exhibit 7

Overcoming Fear

Exhibit 8

NPHT staff and volunteer collage

Exhibit 9

3D Model of a Paralympian's bedroom

For a list of access features relating to this model, and notes around lack of access, please download this word document, or view this pdf.

Naomi Westerman 

Biography and Reflection

Thank You

Accessible Documents

Information panel text and object descriptions - download a word document or view a pdf.

Widgit Resource and Braille Guide coming soon.