At Redcot, the Haslemere residential care home run by Charity, Friends of the Elderly, which is celebrating its 120th Anniversary this year, resident Joyce Douglas has been enjoying her 100th birthday celebrations surrounded by her family, care home friends, balloons, cards, gifts and the care home team.
Joyce, who has lived at Redcot since February 2022, was born at 4.45pm on 25th May, 20 minutes before her identical twin sister, Mollie. “When I arrived, I only just about weighed 4 lbs,”said Joyce. “There was evidently a surprise on its way, as the Doctor had left the house after I was born but had to be called back by the Midwife to deliver my sister.”
Growing up in the leafy suburb of Mossley Hill in Liverpool, Joyce enjoyed a very happy childhood. At the age of eight, in 1933, she joined the Brownies and has been involved in Guiding ever since; both as a Guide, a Leader and most recently a Vice President of Merseyside South Guides. Joyce also remains a Member of The Trefoil Guild, which is part of the Girlguiding organisation and provides a place for former Guides to continue to support the Guiding movement.
Joyce is a woman of many talents, one of which is her gift for sport. “I suppose I was quite an accomplished sportswoman,”continued Joyce. “I love Hockey, and played for The Liverpool Ladies, I was quite a good Netball player too.”
Joyce and Mollie were inseparable and had lots of fun and laughs together. “Mollie and I were rather cheeky growing up,” added Joyce. “As identical twins, we did get up to a bit of mischief. Many times we’d swap places and deputise for each other in lessons - or detentions!
“When we were young, someone told us that cats have nine lives, so Mollie and I ran our own experiment to prove the theory. We popped our cat out of the window – which was only on the ground floor – and he landed perfectly on all fours, so it must be true.”
At the age of 14, Joyce’s school was evacuated to the market town of Llangollen in North Wales. Llangollen is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is situated along 11 miles of canal from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls via the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Sadly, the school returned to Liverpool in time for the 1940 May Blitz in which many of Joyce’s classmates died.
In 1943, Joyce and her sister Mollie entered The Cheshire County Training College and so began her love of teaching. Joyce taught in three Liverpool primary schools before becoming the Headteacher of Merchant Taylors’ Junior School, which was founded in 1620 by John Harrison, a citizen and Merchant Taylor of London.
At college, Joyce fire watched and served in The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) buffet at Crewe Station. Shortly after the war in 1946, Joyce performed on the hallowed Wembley turf, representing West Lancashire at the Festival of Youth. “I remember we had to stay in London whilst we were attending the Festival. Our accommodation was rather unique as we were put up in a deep shelter at Clapham South,”added Joyce.
Joyce has been married and widowed twice. She married her first Husband, Harry, in 1957, and the happy couple became parents to son, Andrew, who lives close to his Mother in Haslemere.
Joyce also has two Stepsons, David and Kenneth who live in Scotland and the Lake District. Widowed in 1980, she married Alan, a fellow Rambler, in 1989 and has a Stepdaughter, Alison. Joyce is now a very proud Grandmother to seven Grandchildren and five Great Grandchildren.
Despite her own sporting prowess, Joyce is not a great follower of football – even given her local Liverpudlian heritage. However, Joyce has always watched and had a flutter on the Grand National. “Harry’s house was next to start of the Aintree Racecourse, so it would have been rude not to have a little wager each year,”continued Joyce.
Joyce’s life has been one of service – from to the Guides, to generations of schoolchildren, to the church and the community – even including volunteering for The National Trust volunteer. “I really believe that being with younger people is an excellent way of keeping young and in touch,”added Joyce.
A lover of camping, not just with the Guides, Joyce has camped all over Europe with her family. More recently, Joyce travelled and explored France with Alan. The couple also enjoyed many Great Rail journeys and cruises.
Mollie and Joyce must have made a formidable duo. In 1948 they travelled through a war ravaged Europe to go walking in Switzerland, and in 1950, they travelled to Norway - which to this day, still remains Joyce’s favourite destination. In 1955, the sisters bought a brand new Ford Prefect – they were very proud of the car as not too many people, let alone women, bought new cars in the Fifties.
“My sister Mollie died aged 95 after suffering from Parkinsons Disease for some years,”continued Joyce. “I still think of her and our adventures together every day, we really were soulmates.”
“I first visited Redcot when my daughter-in-law’s mother was a resident,”said Joyce.“She was very happy at the care home and as soon as I walked in, I knew this was where I would like to be. It is close to my son Andrew and is a warm and welcoming place with caring staff, good food, lots of activities and amazing views.”
“Joyce as an absolute pleasure to have living with us at Redcot,”said Staci Abernethy, the Interim Manager at the care home. “You’ll always find Joyce at all of our activities, chatting to all her care home friends, taking part and enjoying every day. Whether it’s a seated exercise class, an arts and crafts session, being a team player in a quiz or doing The Times crossword, Joyce will always have a smile on her face and a happy word to say to everyone.
“Joyce also loves being part of our many community events, and when we opened our very own pub, The Redcot Arms back in 2023, Joyce was the first resident to be served a drink by the then Mayor of Haslemere, Councillor Jerome Davidson.
“On Joyce’s extra special day, we wanted to show her just how special she is to everyone here at Redcot. We arranged a surprise afternoon tea birthday party with all her family and care home friends, complete with a delicious celebratory birthday cake, which was home-made by our Chef; but the surprises didn’t stop there. Joyce’s family also took her out for a gorgeous family celebration as well,” added Staci.
“I have had the most wonderful 100th birthday,” continued Joyce. “I have been spoilt rotten and loved every minute.
“Over my 100 years, I have seen so many things – World War II, the Moon Landing, King Edward VIII’s abdication, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III’s Coronations; Concord taking flight, even the invention of the World Wide Web and Internet – there are too many to mention. I have been so fortunate.
“I think I have reached my centenary birthday, and still feel great, as I believe in everything in moderation. Taking regular exercise, not drinking too much – a little, but not a lot - and always having a positive outlook and strong faith. These things have stood me well, so I must be doing something right,” concluded a smiling Joyce.