Joan Roffey turns 100 at Invicta Court, Maidstone: wartime evacuee, wedding dress of parachute silk, 55 countries, and her advice on how to live a long life.
Joan Roffey has turned 100 at Invicta Court, the Care UK home on Gidds Pond Way in Maidstone, and she has a short answer for anyone who wants to know how she got there.
“Living it to the fullest, and making the most of each moment!”
She marked the birthday with friends and family at the home, the home told us, over a cake made by her daughter’s neighbour.
Evacuee, letter writer, traveller
Joan was born in Loughton, Essex, in September 1926 and spent much of her childhood in Wanstead. In the Second World War she was evacuated under Operation Pied Piper, moving between several places in Essex before settling in Coleford, Gloucestershire. She went home when the war ended.
She started work at 14 with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Later jobs took her to Cunard Shipping, the British Tourist Authority and Free Netherlands, a Dutch newspaper.
The newspaper is the job she remembers most fondly. In the last years of the war she wrote letters for its proprietor, and when he could not quite remember what he wanted to say, she filled in the gaps herself.
At the British Tourist Authority she met Reginald Roffey. They married in 1950, and Joan made her wedding dress from parachute silk; in the years after the war she made many of her own clothes. Sewing, knitting, tapestry and embroidery stayed with her all her life.
The couple were married for more than 60 years. They visited more than 55 countries together and lived in Toronto, Canada, for 13 years.
“Orrible George”
Asked for her most memorable trip, Joan went to South Africa, where their daughter was living during the apartheid sanctions years. Here is the story in her own words:
“Visiting our daughter, who was living in South Africa at the time of apartheid sanctions, we took a trip to a scenic area called Oribi Gorge. Due to petrol restrictions, we had to carefully plan our trip and had sufficient petrol for the journey there and back only. Halfway back to Durban, I realised I had left my handbag with all our travel money and passports hanging on the back of the toilet door at the gorge.
“Necessitating a return trip to the gorge, we were low on petrol. As it was illegal to syphon petrol or use petrol cans, we had no choice but to contact a relative living locally and surreptitiously fill the tank in the remote bush, terrified the extremely vigilant South African police would catch us. A never to be forgotten trip known in the family now as ‘orrible George!”
The family
Joan and Reginald had two children, Lynne and Neil. There are three grandchildren, Taryn, Samantha and Mark, and five great-grandchildren.
What the home says
Sara Barbosa, the home manager at Invicta Court, said: “It was wonderful to celebrate Joan’s 100th birthday with her family, friends and fellow residents.
“Joan has led an incredible life filled with adventure, travel and creativity, and she always has a fascinating story to tell. She is a much-loved member of the Invicta Court family, and it was a pleasure to mark this very special milestone with her.
“We are passionate about supporting residents to lead fulfilling lives while celebrating the people, experiences and achievements that make them unique. We would like to wish Joan a very happy 100th birthday.”
Invicta Court provides residential, dementia and nursing care and short respite stays. Care UK says the home has its own hair and beauty salon, a bar and a cinema room. Its details are on Care UK’s Invicta Court page.
Have a birthday, anniversary or milestone in Maidstone we should know about? Email hello@maidstonelive.co.uk.
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