Residents, relatives and the team at Rendlesham Care Centre in Suffolk recently gathered together to celebrate an incredible milestone: Resident Joan’s 100th birthday. Surrounded by friends, family, and fellow residents, Joan marked a century of life with a day full of laughter and cherished memories with her loved ones.
Joan is a woman of many talents who has lived a life full of adventure. Some of her passions include poetry, knitting, the outdoors and gardening. When she lived in Carshalton Beeches, she tended to a huge, sprawling garden and took great pride in her care of the many fruit trees, berries and vegetables.
She made a lasting impact throughout her professional career, dedicating many years to caring for others in her role as a burn unit nurse. Beyond her professional work, Joan was also deeply involved with her church, devoting much of her time to supporting her community.
Her husband, John, was an accomplished aeronautical engineer with many notable achievements including his part in designing the windscreen for the legendary Spitfire airplanes. The pair shared a love for camping and the very talented John designed and built many of their camping equipment.
The two were also integral in the preparation of the iconic Rainbow Warrior, a ship used by Greenpeace for environmental activism. Alongside her husband and the rest of the Fuller family, Joan took on a hands-on role in getting the ship ready. While she polished the brass, John scoured and painted the decking.
Joan is known for her resilient “soldier on” attitude and stiff upper lip mentality shaped by her wartime upbringing. Her friend, Susie, affectionately described her as a “lovely, lovely lady in every way and a real trooper!”
Since her arrival to Rendlesham in 2010, she has become a beloved member of the home’s community, which was evident in the love shown for her on this momentous day. Joan enjoyed an intimate tea party with loved ones, reading the many cards that were sent in and enjoying some delicious chocolate cake baked by the hospitality team.
Regional Support Manager, Pearl, congratulated Joan – “Congratulations, Joan, on reaching such an incredible milestone! You are such a warm and sociable lady with an endearing personality and a friendly smile for all!”
Rendlesham Care Centre provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care on a short term and permanent basis. For more information, please call 01394331970.
