Born in Tredegar, Jan passed the entrance exam for Tredegar Grammar School. On leaving school, Jan took a job in the local library. When she married she and her husband came to live in Chepstow for him to take up a job in Llanwern Steel works. in 2004 Jan came to live in Caldicot where she now runs Caldicot Writers Group which is based the Library. Jan has had a lifelong interest in creative arts which she practices to the present day. Now widowed, Jan belongs to SWANS, which is group founded by Ann Nias for women like her with several branches in the area.