Efficient and elegant Leamington care home resident Joan celebrates her 100th birthday and will have an even bigger party after pandemic

Joan was born in the Whitefields area of what is now Greater Manchester in 1920.

She celebrated her 100th birthday at the care home last Sunday (December 20).

She has lived in Leamington for most of her life having moved to the town with her late husband of 53 years Ron in the early 1950s.

During the Second World War, Ron served in Royal Artillery and saw service in Egypt and Crete where he was wounded while evacuating other wounded soldiers.

He was mentioned in dispatches and ended the war with rank of Captain but continued in the Territorial Army eventually retiring as a Major.

Ron later trained to be an accountant and after qualifying he and Joan came to Leamington so Ron could join D A Owen & Co, Chartered Accountants, where he became a partner.

Joan joined Westminster Bank in Leamington and was a familiar figure as the main cashier at the bank’s branch at 59, The Parade.

In the bank she was noted for her 'efficiency and elegance'.

Joan remained at that branch until the merger of Westminster Bank with National Provincial Bank, when she transferred to the Stratford branch, working there until her retirement.

Joan and Ron were both golfers and members of Leamington and County Golf Club and Ron was also a long-time member of Guy’s Lodge where he was Worshipful Master in 1977.

They enjoyed fine dining and had a list of favourite restaurants.

Joan and Ron were both golfers and members of Leamington and County Golf Club and Ron was also a long-time member of Guy’s Lodge where he was Worshipful Master in 1977.

They enjoyed fine dining and had a list of favourite restaurants.

Sadly, after a long fight with cancer, Ron died in 2007 but Joan continued to live at their home in Lillington Road until, following the second of two hip operations, in 2017 she decided to move to Helen Ley House.

Family has always been important to Joan. Being an only child, she has maintained close links with Ron’s family, including those who moved abroad. In retirement, she and Ron enjoyed many trips with Ron’s sister (also called Joan) and her husband, Rudi, travelling within the UK and further afield.

Joan greatly appreciated the support given to her by Ron and Joan following Rudi’s death.

In recent years, Joan has shared many lunches at her favourite venues with her nieces and nephews and their partners.

She insisted on celebrating her 99th birthday with a pub lunch.

Unfortunately, an outing to celebrate her centenary will have to be postponed until Covid-19 issues have receded but she has been promised that the occasion will not be forgotten by the staff and residents at Helen Ley.