Portsmouth School choir gives Joyce, 100, a birthday surprise

Doris Snow – known as Joyce – was overjoyed with the surprise mini-concert from the Milton Park Primary School choir.

They visited her sheltered housing accomodation, John Marshall House, in Buckland, when a member of staff asked if they could make the party special for her.

Joyce, who has two children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, shared her special day and other residents who decked the communal hall out in balloons for her.

The party, on Sunday, was a fun-filled affair.

Joyce said: ‘I received my telegram from the Queen, which was lovely.

‘I have to say I don’t feel any different now I’m 100.

‘I still feel quite young.

‘I’ve had lots of surprises over the weekend.

‘Yesterday I was taken to a lovely hotel to see my daughter who came all the way from Devon.

‘And today these lovely children have sung for me. I just love the sound of children’s voices. It’s so sweet.

‘I could listen to them all the time.’

Joyce’s 75-year-old son Richard, from Waterlooville, said his mother has had a lovely life. She was a telephone girl during the war in Elsford.

‘She met my late father, Dansy, when they were in service. She was a dairy maid.

‘Together they went to Ireland where my father was the head butler for the Jameson whiskey group until he was called up for conscription during the war.’

The couple came back and settled in Portsmouth where Joyce lived in Queens Road for almost 70 years. Her beloved husband died 30 years ago.

Joyce, who was born in East Tisted, in East Hampshire, said: ‘I have very fond memories from my childhood.

‘When my father was away with the Royal Engineers my mother would pack us all up and go to her mother’s on the Isle of Wight. We absolutely loved it there.’

Julie Smith, headteacher at the school, said: ‘We were very surprised to get the request but delighted to sing for Joyce.’