Happy 101st Birthday!

A WOMAN whose career included intercepting and sending coded messages during the Second World War has celebrated her 101st birthday.

Joan Picton, of Saltash, was born in Plymouth, and educated by her mother in early years. She later attended Plymouth Art School and in 1939 joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) as a writer, then a cypher officer, serving in Plymouth, Portsmouth , Lee -on –Solent, Yeovilton, and Somerset.

After the war in 1947, Joan married Lt Commander Neville Picton, a mechanical engineer in the Royal Navy, at St Nicholas and St Faith Church, Saltash. They had four children, a son, Stephen , and three daughters ,Rosanne, Annette, and Jane. Joan’s husband sadly died in 1989.

She has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Joan took part in the BBC televised annual Remembrance service at the at the Royal Albert Hall , London , November 2017 when she was aged 97, and read the citation.

The same year she attended the 100th anniversary of the WRNS in Portsmouth Cathedral and met the Princess Royal.

Many years later, one of Joan’s Daughters, Annette, also joined the WRNS and became a Royal Navy Commodore.

In Saltash, Joan has been a member of Saltash Abbeyfield Committee, also member of the former Saltash First Forum.

Mayor and Mayoress of Saltash Pete and Brenda Samuels called in on Joan’s 101st birthday to present her with flowers. Due to all the present restrictions, Joan just had her four grown up children visiting her on the day in the garden. Other members of the family and friends phoned and sent cards and gifts.

Joan enjoyed her special day and is in good health and good spirits, and she still keeps busy making garments, sewing and knitting, for her great grandchildren. She loved gardening but is only able to do gardening using pots now. She says she also enjoys reading books and newspapers and especially the Cornish Times.

Source: Cornish Times