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Joan
was born in Wimbledon S.W. London in 1924. In her own
words ‘was hopeless at school’, taking years to
discover the reason - she was slightly dyslexic,
yearning to learn but having serious blocks in the brain
department. Therefore on leaving school she was deemed
only fit for housework so went to work for her
grandmother. From there into shop work before becoming
catering manager at the age of sixteen. Munitions were
her next post, paint spraying aircraft parts hidden in
the woods at Virginia Waters. At seventeen, and
underage, she had itchy feet and joined the Women's Air
Force. It was then her brain went into gear and she
learned many skills of which one was touch typing.
In
her late thirties she had a strong urge to write.
Despite opposition she wrote her first short story,
"The Cable", which was accepted by the BBC and
was invited to read it over air. Next came
inspirational poetry that was read over National radio
in
New
Zealand
.
From there she was invited to speak on a Pacific One
radio programme about her
psychic abilities and later discovered that after
reading one of her poems it had saved the life of an
alcoholic who was about to commit suicide in an Auckland
hotel room. Other poems were also published in Doris Stoke's
books.
During
the last five years of her working life Joan cared for
the mentally handicapped and latterly wrote an article
on the subject, which was accepted and published by a
national magazine, namely Woman's Own.
Four
Chapters of an unpublished Second World War book
"Up She Goes!" were serialised over four weeks
by the Portsmouth Evening News, a local paper. The
editor, having read a large percentage and interested
because of the uniqueness of the subject matter, felt it
worthy of book form and hoped a publisher would take it
up.
From marriages that include both verbal and physical
abuse and bringing up eight children to caring for the
mentally handicapped before going to New Zealand and
Australia and finally having to fight breast cancer. If
ever a life's journey were rich in experiences Joan’s
has it all.
After many years of trying, Joan’s first book Up She
Goes! And the Breighton
Twins was published in December 2004, to coincide with
her 80th birthday.
This fascinating and witty book is available from Paul
Mould Publishing on ISBN 1-905949-15-6.
Joan sadly died on 23rd September 2005
however in time all her books will be published.
For further details contact Joan’s Agent Chris Vass on
01725 512211 or by email on chris@spiracle.net
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