Resident at Connaught Court celebrates 100th birthday

A resident at Connaught Court, in York, has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Joan Brown enjoyed a celebration with fellow residents and staff at the Home, along with gifts, flowers, fizz and a card from the Queen. She ordered her favourite meal, fish and chips, from the local chip shop for lunch before her two sons came to visit.

She said:

I can’t believe I’m still here, I’m amazed and annoyed! It’s just that I’ve been so busy all my life!

Joan, who was born in June 1921 in Pocklington, worked as a Billeting Officer and was involved in the government evacuation scheme in rehousing children and mothers in the Wolds around the market town, from bombed out cities such as Liverpool, Coventry and Hull. Joan has many stories of children that she helped during the war and her memories are still vivid of those days.

Joan met her first husband to be, Sid Dixon, in the school playground at five years old. Two weeks after they were married, Sid was called up to the Royal Signal Corps and was away in North Africa and Italy for four years. Nine months later, Joan’s son Geoff was born, followed by John, soon after. Sadly Sid passed away when the boys were teenagers and Joan worked tirelessly to provide a secure and happy home for them. Joan went on to marry John Brown, the man who interviewed her for her billeting job. However, sadly four years later, Joan was widowed again.

Joan has been active all her life. She is a member of Pocklington Bowls club, enjoys gardening, baking, cooking and loves her rural country life. She is now a great grandmother, with four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Joan moved into Connaught Court four years ago, and is one of the six centenarians living at the Home. Despite the pandemic, Joan has coped extremely well during the past year. She says:

I just keep outliving other folks! I keep going because I don’t know how to stop! I can’t wait to spend time with my boys, my lovely family and to see them all again. It’s been a tough year, I just go day by day.

Fran Tagg, Activities Coordinator at Connaught Court, said:

Joan is a wonderful person and it was an honour to celebrate her 100th birthday at our Home.