REMEMBERING A WONDERFUL LADY

Mr. HCB’s mother, Joan or to give her her full name, Phyllis Evelyn Joan, was born on 18th December 1913 and was the youngest of 5 children.  When she left school she worked as a tailoress in Swindon then when she was 18 years old, she met Harry at a Sunday School “treat” at Stratton Baptist Church.  They got married on 29th June 1935 and had two sons, Derek, in 1936 and John (Mr. HCB) in 1942.

When Harry served in India during World War II, Joan had to look after the two boys on her own and the story is told that when Harry came home, John didn’t remember him and had to be tempted out with sweets from his hiding place under the table.

Joan was a kind, caring and gentle woman and also a wonderful homemaker, who spent her time cooking and looking after the men in her household, including her father, who lived with them for many years.  She not only loved cooking but also sewing and she and Harry shared their love of gardening - in fact, she liked nothing better than having a bonfire at the bottom of the garden.  

She was always very kind to me - in fact, she was more like a mother than a mother-in-law and even came with me to buy my wedding dress.  I was used to doing everything for myself at home, but when I went round to visit, I was thoroughly pampered by Joan and I loved it.

She had a quiet Christian faith, attending Immanuel, her local church, which was just up the road and was involved in the making of the pulpit and lectern falls - in fact, her handiwork can still be seen there to this day.

She taught our two sons how to sew - and they often made bookmarks or sewed buttons onto a long piece of material.  We used to visit every Thursday to have tea and when the boys were able to come home from school on their own, they used to walk to Nanny’s house and after Harry died in 1977, this was even more important for her.  Egg sandwiches, or a “boily” egg with soldiers, followed by orange club biscuits and Battenberg cake was always there for the boys but her home-made fruit cake and jam tarts were the best!

In her later years, she had both hips replaced and had various health problems, but she never ever complained. When I used to visit her, when she was very ill, she would say that she wished God would take her.  I used to remind her of the verse that says “In my Father’s house are many rooms…..” and that when her room was ready, He would do just that.

It was a sad day when she died on 30th October 1996, but she lived long enough to see her great grandson, Harry, who was born in 1995 and Charlotte, her great granddaughter, who was born in September 1996.  I remember our younger son coming into her house on the day of the funeral wearing a yellow carnation - when asked why he was wearing it, he said very proudly “That’s for my Nan!”  

Joan was a wonderful lady, who is still loved and missed every day, but who has been an inspiration to all her family.

Happy Birthday, Joan!

If you can find a truly good wife, 
     she is worth more than precious gems!
She sews for the poor and 
     generously helps those in need.
Her children stand and bless her; 
     so does her husband. 
He praises her with these words: 
     “There are many fine women in the world, 
          but you are the best of them all!”
Verses from Proberbs 31