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and, d ask said. they hose olite who glits she leant forward to tell me: “In World War Two, it was women who saved the day.”
Dr Joan is one of many women whose remarkable lives are revealed in my new book, The Stepney Doorstep Society.
It takes a fresh look at the war through the eyes of some of the East End’s most formidable matriarchs, the women the history books forgot.
Two of them were visited last week by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at Jewish Care’s Brenner Centre at Stepney One of the injured on stretcher Handrails are put up after tragedy Community Centre. Life-long Labour supporter and anti-fascist Beatty Orwell, 101, and Marie Joseph, 97 – both born and raised in Stepney – dazzled Camilla when they got up and danced with her.
“Meeting all you wonderful, inspirational people has been a real treat,” the duchess said afterwards.
Still working as well as dancing, sprightly centre volunteer Marie stunned Camilla when she confided her age.
As well as living through the Depression, the wartime East Ender survived the Blitz, started work in a factory at the age of 14 and, 83 years on, recently won an award for her volunteering work for Jewish Care.
The matriarch and mother of five says hard work and chicken soup is the secret to a long and happy life.
“You strive, you thrive,” she adds. “I’ve worked hard all my life. My poor mum raised seven kids in two rooms.
“Not that I had any idea I was poor. During the Depression, everyone was in the same boat, you see.”
Sadly, Dr Joan is no longer alive to see the publication of the book celebrating