Books and baking keeps this Southsea centenarian smiling

Despite Covid-19, lockdown and her postponed centenary celebrations, the Southsea birthday girl still enjoys spending time in her kitchen or with a book in her hand, overlooking the church she was married in many years ago.

Born on January 4, 1921, Joyce grew up with her eight siblings in Cleethorpes, north-east Lincolnshire. Her father worked as a foreman electrician at Grimsby docks and Joyce has many happy memories of enjoying the entertainment on Cleethorpes seafront with her family.

When the Great Depression struck in the 1930s, Joyce’s family made the decision to move south and made their home in St Alban’s Road, Southsea.

As her siblings were a lot older than her, Joyce recalls her sister Violet looking after her, as her mum was disabled.

In May 1940 a chance encounter with a sailor, Albert Bowers, led to marriage by special licence on Boxing Day, 1940. Albert was at sea for the majority of the Second World War and Joyce did her bit on the home front.

While working at Woolworth’s, Commercial Road, Portsmouth, she volunteered at the Engineering Training Centre in Southampton followed by a placement with Folland’s Aviation, Hamble - until then there hadn’t been any women employed there.

In January 1941, the severe bombings meant Joyce was moved out of St Alban’s Road and had to take up temporary residence elsewhere. When war passed, the Bowers’ lived in Westfield Road, Devonshire Avenue and Festing Grove with their two daughters Rose and Linda, who died in 1988.

Joyce worked as a dinner lady and also hosted students for a number of summer visits at her home, while Albert was a postman until his retirement.

The couple enjoyed many holidays abroad and at home in the UK, mostly combined with Pompey’s away games, as Albert was a dedicated fan.

In 1996, they made the decision to leave Festing Grove and move to a flat provided by Agamemnon Housing Association, Southsea. They had a long and happy marriage celebrating 63 years before Albert died in 2003.

After Albert’s death, Joyce’s first boyfriend, who she met at Sunday school when she was 14, got in touch after his sister saw the obituary for Albert in the paper. They enjoyed four years together until he died in 2008.

Joyce continues to live independently, with help from her neighbours, daughter Rose and son-in-law. She still enjoys cooking – having always been an ‘excellent cook’ – and goes through books as quickly as she can thanks to her neighbours lending them to her. As a nature lover, Joyce was a very keen gardener so enjoys seeing the neighbouring gardens from her flat window which overlooks the church where she was married.

Due to Covid restrictions, Joyce’s birthday celebration is being postponed but she looks forward to marking this special milestone with her daughter, three grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild when safe to do so.