Françoise Bacon

Esplanade Françoise Bacon, Amboise

For Amboise to honour French heroes such as General Leclerc and General de Gaulle is commendable. Even more commendable is when locals who are not household names are honoured.

Strolling along the Esplanade Françoise Bacon on the north side of the Loire near Notre Dame de Bout des Ponts, we wondered who she was (and whether her parents were fans of Francis Bacon the English philosopher, not the Irish artist).

Max Ernst Fountain, Amboise

Mme Bacon, a doctor of philosophy, ran her own successful marketing consultancy. Before she was an Amboisienne she was a Parisienne but, as with so many before and after her, she fell in love with Amboise. Deciding this was the place she wanted to spend the rest of her life, she restored a house opposite the Max Ernst Fountain and settled down. One of her greatest pleasures in life was showing the town off to visiting friends from Paris.

Wanting to give something back to Amboise, she was elected a councillor and served her local community for seven years.

St. Denis, Amboise

Sadly, in 2016, Mme Bacon lost her fight against the dreaded Big C disease, she died peacefully at home in her beloved Amboise. Her funeral was held in the beautiful old church of St. Denis. Amboise remembers her with gratitude for her successful campaign to restore The Max Ernst Fountain which is now a huge tourist attraction.

Post by Pamela, photography by Mark.