THE FIRST World War was raging in Europe when a remarkable Isle of Wight resident was born — now celebrating her 105th birthday.
Known only as 'Joan', the Blackwater Mill care home resident celebrated her birthday today (Saturday), surrounded by staff and fellow residents.
Following a call by the care home earlier this week for Islanders to try to make her day extra special, Joan received more than 2,000 birthday cards and many gifts of flowers and bubbly.
It was a huge and unexpected outpouring of love and respect for her from across the Isle of Wight which has left Joan and staff at the care home totally gobsmacked.
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The former Sandown resident has had a long, healthy and interesting life so far — and still adds having a go at driving a car for the first time remains high on her bucket list!
Following an appeal from the home this week for Islanders to mark the special occasion, cards and gifts have been flooding in at such a rate, it has overwhelmed staff.
Born in Coventry, Joan worked as a medcal secretary to an orthopaedic surgeon at the city's hospital for nigh on 40 years.
Joan recalled, from almost a century ago, enjoying school — "in part", as she put it.
The centenarian also remembers the horrors of the Nazi blitzkrieg on Coventry during the Second World War — surviving several heavy bombing campaigns as a young woman.
She said: "When the bombs went off, I remember the windows smashing. My mother laid on top of me to protect me. It was frightening."
Joan is due to receive a card from the Queen for her landmark birthday — probably among the last batch to be posted to centenarians in her name, and possibly the eldest.
She received a card from the Queen for her 100th birthday and joked her golden retriever, Larry, took it and walked off.
Joan remembers watchng the Queen's coronation in 1953 on television — and said she was surprised and saddened to learn of her passing last week, simply adding: "She was lovely."
A resident of Sandown for many years, Joan came to the Island with accountant and pianist husband Arthur to retire in 1979.
They took the plunge after spending many happy holidays on the Island.
Joan has always led an active life, with a particular passion for cycling, enjoying riding on the Island's roads in particular.
She even took up horse riding lessons for the first time when she was aged 93.
"Yes, I did that for a while. I don't want to get old," Joan said.
Staff at Blackwater Mill have been making a big fuss of Joan — treating her to singing from former Hollyoaks star, Sarah Jane Buckley, and Sarah Harris, a display of trikes and bikes and a performance by saxophonist, David Plummer, followed by a buffet.
To add the cherry on the cake, she was reunited with her beloved Larry, aged 13 now and looked after by a friend.
"I'm also hoping to have a nice meal," she concluded.
"My favourite is roast pork and crackling."
One of Joan's nephews is due to visit her today from Thailand.
Blackwater Mill manager, Penny Tyau, said she thanks "the many kind people who have sent cards and gifts to Joan," which includes from schools, cub groups and even a pub.
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