Joan celebrates 100th birthday with four generations of her family


Joan, who still lives at home in Elgin Drive, was thrilled to receive a special card from King Charles III as she reached her age milestone.
Nearly 40 members of her family attended a party at the town’s Sysonby Knoll Hotel on Sunday.
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Hide AdHer daughter, Gill Haffenden, told the Melton Times: “Mum was a bit worried she would be overwhelmed by it all but she had a lovely day.
"She is still very much with it and she has a great memory.”
A special thrill for Joan was a birthday cake made by her 14-year-old great-grandaughter, Millie.
"She loved Millie’s cake which we managed to get 100 candles on,” said Gill.
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Hide Ad"We had family members from as far away as Scotland and France coming to the party and 12 great-grandchildren.”
When Joan was born, near Warwick, on May 21, 1923, George V was King and the nation was recovering from the end of the First World War just five years before.
When she left school, Joan became a nurse and worked at a Birmingham Hospital during the Second World War.
While there she met Geoff, a trainee dentist, at a ‘Paul Jones’ dance.
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Hide AdThe couple were married for 76 years until he passed away last March aged 97.
They had four children – Nigel, Tim and Tess, as well as Gill.
Joan and Geoff have taken great pleasure from their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"Mum came from a well-to-do family with servants but she enjoyed her life much more when she met Geoff, who was more grounded,” said Gill, who lives in Melton.
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Hide AdIn her later years, Joan took up oil painting and developed a real talent for producing stunning pictures of flowers.
She only gave her hobby up after having a minor stroke when she was 91.
Joan is able to move around her house and she has a mobility scooter for getting about outside.
Gill added: “She loves going up the country park in her scooter with her carer.
"She also loves going to the farmers’ market and I take her out for teas.”