A 96-YEAR-OLD Worcester resident has been honoured for her service during the Second World War.
Joan Ford, a resident Care UK’s Perry Manor on Charles Hastings Way, received a special ‘Not Forgotten’ gift box to celebrate her time as a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse during the conflict.
Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE DL, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire visited the home for a special socially-distanced ceremony, where Joan was presented with the token, which contained war memorabilia, including a key ring, tea towel and war-time items.
Born in 1925 in Elham, Maid of Kent Joan became a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse during the Second World War, later working for the Red Cross and running a cadet unit. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, she is thought to be one of the UK’s oldest Brownies, having joined in 1933 and renewed her promise recently.
After her time in the Red Cross, she returned to the Brownies as a First Aid Instructor, and took part in many camps, including an international camp in Malvern in 1967. After Joan retired, she joined the Trefoil Guild, another branch of Girlguiding, working with groups across Worcestershire and raising funds for local causes.
Katherine Matthews, home manager at Perry Manor, said: “Joan’s story is incredible, having dedicated her life to helping others – whether it was as a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse or during her with the Brownies, which she joined in the 1930s.
“She is also well-known in the Blackmore area for supporting an array of fund-raising schemes for children play equipment, helping the shape vital community spaces by selling handcrafted items, so we were delighted to see her selflessness acknowledged and celebrated.
“On behalf of everyone at Perry Manor, I’d like to say a big thank you to Brigadier Brunt for making Joan’s day so special. It was a beautiful ceremony and there’s no doubt Joan will remember it for a long time!”
