Joyce was a member of Marple Bridge & Mellor for the last 15 years. She helped with the catering for the Christmas party the first year she was a member and helped with various other u3a events. Most of you will remember Joyce as she served coffee, along with Wendy Atkinson, at the monthly meetings for many years.
Joyce was educated at New Mills Grammar School and went to the Yorkshire College of Housecraft in 1955 at the age of 18. Joyce and I (Malcolm) began our relationship in 1954, hence having been together for over 71 years. After three years at college Joyce began her teaching career at Mossley girls school in Ashton-under-Lyne.
After only one year there she went to teach at New Mills Grammar School, the school where she was educated. Teaching along side collegues who had taught her, until 1964.
From 1971 Joyce taught Cake Decoration to adult students at evening classes at Stockport College and eventually went on to teach at a girls school in Levenshulme. Two years later Marple Hall School were advertising for a Housecraft teacher and Joyce decided to apply ƒor the position. She contacted the head at New Mills School, a teacher she had worked along side before, for a reference. He refused and said “I want you to come and teach here again” and she spent the rest of her career there until she retired.
Joyce was Costume Mistress for Stockport Operatic Society for a number of years, and along with Heather Spreckley, Costume Mistress for Marple Scout & Guide Gang Show for 40 years.
Joyce’s main hobby was embroidery and eventually quilting, which she learned from Kitty Watt with a number of other u3a members, and produced wonderful pieces of work most of which adorn our home.
Joyce had been a Guider and later a member of Marple Trefoil Guild (an International Guiding Organisation), a member of Mellor Church Women’s Evening Fellowship and Mellor Textile Art Group.
Joyce and I celebrated our 65th Wedding Anniversary three months before she died and we had a wonderful life together

Malcolm