One-hundred-years-old and still going strong!
Salisbury resident Joyce Allery has celebrated her 100th birthday today.
The centenarian, who used to volunteer at the Chapter House of Salisbury Cathedral, still lives in her house in Sarum St Michael, The Close, where she would often be seen planting produce in the garden.
Born in Kennington, London on September 1920 23, Joyce was the daughter of Walter and Violet May Gibson.
Her parents attended the church of St John’s the Divine, Kennington where, around the age of 10, Joyce met her future husband, George Allery, with whom she shared a love of art, architecture and academia.
The pair married in Kennington in 1940 and lived with George’s parents.
At the time, George was Head of Research in the General Post Office and Joyce worked for a photographer near Buckingham Palace and used to photograph the debutants.
In 1943 they had their first child, a daughter called Josephine whom Joyce was evacuated to Maidenhead with during the Second World War.
When Josephine got married and moved to Salisbury, George and Joyce followed. In 1982, the pair moved to Sarum St Michael, which had just been built in the Salisbury Cathedral Close.
Their faith and love of the church brought them very close to Salisbury Cathedral, George being an acolyte for the cathedral and Joyce and her daughter as volunteer historians in the Chapter House.
Joyce and George were married for 59 years and loved being part of the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral until George passed away 20 years ago, at the age of 79.
When she was 96 years old, Joyce lost her daughter Josephine to breast cancer. She is still very close to her son Stephen, son in law Christopher Sexton, her seven grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren who visit her regularly.
Up until recently Joyce was an active gardener and cook. Her family say she would disappear for hours attending to her vegetable patch and would walk for miles up until a few years ago.
Blackberry and apple picking and making them into pies was her favourite time of the year!
Joyce still lives quietly in The Close next to the Cathedral, which is her all time favourite view. She would often be seen planting in the communal gardens for all her neighbours to enjoy.
She has always had a great sense of humour and is rarely seen without a smile on her face. She is easy-going and has a strength and positive outlook on life that her family all admire.
When asked what her secret to youthfulness is, Joyce said: “I do everything in moderation!” - her secret to a long happy marriage is “Fight lots and make up lots”.
On Wednesday, Joyce celebrated her birthday surrounded by her family who congratulate her on her milestone.
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