Early life

Joyce May Hill was born in Ebbw Vale, South Wales on 16th January 1919 and was educated at Hengoed Grammar School. She moved to The Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith, Cumberland at the age of 15, following her father's appointment as Station Master by the LMS company.

After leaving school she trained as a secretary, working for several different employers before volunteering for war service. She first worked for a while in a munitions factory in the north of England, before volunteering for service in the Women's auxiliary Air Force.

Shortly after completing her initial training she volunteered for overseas service and in April 1943 was posted to the Headquarters staff at RAF Helwan, south of Cairo, in Egypt. Subsequently she was transferred to Kasfareet near the Suez Canal and was eventually demobbed in 1946. She was awarded the Defence and War medals.

It was during her time at Helwan when she first met Alan. They would both meet up from time to time in Cairo and Alexandria, keeping in touch after the war by letter and occasional visits. They eventually became engaged in 1947 and were married at St. John's Church, Shirley, in September 1948.

Married Life

In common with most "post war" couples starting their lives together, times were tough due to rationing. Joyce supported Alan in successfully completing his studies to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.

In1953 they moved from Sanderstead to Shirley and were regular worshippers at St John's, where Joyce made many friends.

Joyce devoted herself to family life. Her daughter Ann was born in 1955, followed by her son Ian three years later. She provided great support to the children and to Alan during his career, and later during his retirement. Throughout their 68 years of happy marriage, Joyce proved a wonderful wife and a devoted mother, sacrificing self interest for the benefit of her family. In the later years of retirement they moved to West Sussex to be closer to their family.

Throughout her life Joyce was a joyful person who made lifelong friends, always showing great loyalty and a huge sense of fun.

She was aged 97 at the time of her death.