Parris Lawn resident celebrates 100th birthday
Joan, a lovely resident at Parris Lawn turns 100 on 26th February! Joan was 17 at the outbreak of WWII having recently passed the Civil Service exam she was soon seconded to the new Ministry of Aircraft Production in central London to help with the urgent need for aircraft. Working seven days a week managing orders for vital aircraft parts despite numerous air raid sirens, occasional bomb damage nearby and one direct hit to her building, Joan & colleagues played a critical part preparing for the Battle of Britain. In 1942 the Ministry moved to Harrogate which she enjoyed because of the many airmen there! She even managed to contribute to the war effort on her annual leave by working as a Land Girl.
Born in Essex 1922, the daughter and granddaughter of headmasters, a lot has changed in her lifetime; all eating was at the table with strict manners, never in the street or on a sofa. Both men & women always wore hats outside & women gloves too. All shopping was done at counters, no self service. Women got equal voting rights to men when Joan was 6 but women were not expected to work after marriage as Civil Servants, Nurses or Teachers. Joan has lived through 19 Prime Ministers, 4 Monarchs & 14 Royal Weddings. She was outside Buckingham Palace at the Queen’s Coronation in June 1953 rather riskily up a short ladder while 8 months pregnant to see the young Elizabeth II. She was thrilled when working at Harrods Book Department to serve the Queen.
The ultimate luxury holiday when Joan was young was a week at the seaside or touring the UK in your own car & later riding pillion on a motorcycle from London to Paris. In the 60s you were rich if you had a fridge, a washing machine & a black & white tv. She was used to several posts a day, a letter could arrive the same day it was posted & telegrams even quicker! The Walls ice cream man came by bicycle everyday and you put a notice in your window if you wanted him to deliver. Skirts have got shorter, swimming costumes & cars smaller, man walked on the moon. Joan welcomed central heating, colour TV, mobile phones, computers & even video games although she called herself a “technological plonker”; when given a mobile phone it was so precious to her that she put it in a jiffy bag inside her handbag to protect it which meant she never heard her family calling!
Joan met husband Peter, an engineer, on a coach trip to Paris. Married in London 1950 they had four children including identical twins. They moved to Herstmonceux in 1961 and has lived in Sussex over 60 years now. After losing Peter in 1983, Joan became ‘Granny Eastbourne’ by the sea for her seven grandchildren and seven great, grandchildren. Joan has held roles in the WI, Mothers Union, WRVS, St Saviours & St Peters Church, been a visitor to Elizabeth Finlay & Leonard Cheshire Homes and companion to the blind. Daily sea swimming from her Eastbourne beach hut and walking miles along the prom were particular joys until her nineties. At the Millennium Joan wrote that the letters of her name stood for Jolly. Optimistic. Ancient. Naughty!
For the last four years Joan has been very happy at Parris Lawn Care Home, Ringmer and her daughter Ruth & sons Hugh, Richard & John would like to thank all the Parris Lawn management and staff on her behalf for their wonderful care, excellent nursing, kindness, lots of love and delicious food; and for helping Joan through Covid at the very beginning of the pandemic when she was 98 years old. She has been an enthusiastic participant in their many activities and entertainments which have helped through the long lockdowns. Parris Lawn’s excitement about Joan’s 100th birthday and plans to celebrate with staff, residents & family are greatly appreciated.
