Joan celebrates turning 100 with card from King
WARGRAVE: In 1923 petrol cost just 2p a gallon, an average-sized home sold for £350 and Joan Hulford was born.
The Reading-born mum of four is now celebrating her 100th birthday and has become the first resident of The Mount Nursing Home, Wargrave, to receive a congratulatory card from His Majesty King Charles III.
At a family party at the School Hill care home loved ones gathered around the centenarian surrounded by scores of cards and garlands of balloons to celebrate and reminisce.
Beautiful black and white photographs from a post-war wedding show Joan and her husband, Wilfred, who also lived at The Mount until 2017, about to embark upon a long and happy marriage.
“She was a great cook and you could always tell what day of the week it was by what was cooking,” her eldest son Alan told the Advertiser.
“And the cakes she made were fantastic, especially the gateaux,” said youngest son Andrew.
“What I remember most about growing up were the big family gatherings, always lots of family around – sisters and cousins – and we were never told off,” added granddaughter Louise Temple.
The card from His Majesty took pride of place on the party table, behind a large cake that was made by a friend of one of Joan’s eight grandchildren.
Over a life of 100 years of happy family times and working at Reading’s Huntley and Palmers biscuit factory, Joan has seen five monarchs reign in Great Britain.
When asked about the significance of receiving the royal post from the current king, Alan said his mum was pleased to have the card but added:
“When she was going for a medical test she was asked: ‘who is currently on the throne?’ and mum said: ‘I am!’”