'It's put us back in touch'
A chance sighting reunited loyal reader Joyce with her lost friend
WHEN Joyce Taylor opened her daily copy of The News and saw a photo of people clapping on their doorsteps, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
The 91-year-old was not shocked by the situation – people showing their support for carers during lockdown – she was surprised to see her old mate John Castleton, who she lost touch with almost eight decades ago.
Joyce, from Purbrook, lived in Somerstown when she was seven years old, in a row of houses that has been long since demolished.
It was while living there that she became friends with John, who she affectionately calls Johnny.
She said: ‘He was out on his doorstep ringing a bell to say thank you to the nurses and the NHS when The News took a photo of him.
‘When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it. I said “it’s you!”. I have an old photo of us all back then and it’s got his name on it, the same name as was in the paper.
‘He is older than me so he’s 98 now. It’s incredible.’
It was the first time she'd seen her old mate in more than 80 years, and has led to them getting back in contact and 'becoming the best of friends'.
As a result, Joyce and her daughter, Val, now visit John every now and then for a distanced natter and to take him a strawberry cream sponge cake.
Joyce credits The News for helping them get back in touch.
The great-great-grandmother says it’s been a staple of her life ever since she can remember, and that she started buying it herself when she was 19 years old. ‘My mum took it,’ she said. ‘She used to get the evening edition, back when there was one. There was always a copy on the table.
‘I love the community news, obviously, and I always turn to the births, deaths and marriages first.
‘It’s surprising to see people who have died.
‘There are lots of people who can’t get the internet, so they rely on this. Not many people put it in the paper any more but I think it’s still so important.
‘It is sad when someone dies and it’s not marked properly.’
Joyce, who was married to Ernest for 59 years before he died in 2008, says she’s had 54 different jobs in her time.
Now long retired, she keeps herself busy with her friends and family, but she always makes time to read The News.
‘I love The News. I love everything about it. I read it from top to bottom, every single word,’ she said. the