Joan (Fletcher) Taylor (1929 - 2017)

Born 8 May 1929 in Dudley, Staffordshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of John Taylor — married 3 Dec 1960 in Halesowen Church

Descendants

Died 9 Aug 2017 at age 88 in Russells Hall Hospital, Pensnett Rd, Dudley DY1 2HQ, UK

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robin Taylor [send private message]

Biography

Joan Fletcher. Given Name: Joan. Surname: Fletcher. ^[1][2]

Born 8 May 1929. Dudley, Staffordshire, England. ^[3]

Early Life

Born the last and unplanned child of George and Jemima Jane Fletcher. She lived at 78 Gorsty Hill Road, Rowley Regis Work. The family home that came with her father's job at the Stewart's and Lloyd's Tube works.
As a young child She attended Old Hill Primary School, Laurence Lane. When her father died in 1938, the family had to vacate the house and move to 44 Gorsty Hill Road, a small end terrace house one of four houses with an open yard and outdoor toilets. She completed her education at the age of 14 at Highfields School, Beeches Road Rowley Regis Worc.
Shortly after school she contracted Scarlet fever from which she made a full recovery. She would say how she was a bride's maid at a wedding where she wore a borrowed/rented dress. It rained, the dress got soaking wet and shortly thereafter she was struck down with a cough that would not get better. Her mother Jane cared for her as she tried to convalesce in the downstairs front room with her constant companion Connie the family cat. Jane tried every remedy she knew or that was suggested to her. The doctor finally diagnosed tuberculosis, which at that time could still be a death sentence.

Knightwick / St. Wulstun

Joan was transferred to Knightwick TB sanatorium, where she would spend the next 5 years of her life. She had one lung removed and part of the other. Her recovery was then facilitated by bed rest and a new drug that had just come into general use: Streptomycin [1]. The theory at the time was that cold fresh air would aid recovery and often the beds would be put outside on the porches of the hospital units. When she finally went home she found her Cat Connie had been killed by a car. For some time after coming home, she still had to go for regular chest injections.

Returning Home

She worked at the Snow Drift Laundry Works prior to marrying, towards the end of the 1950s her mother Jane Fletcher developed Alzheimer's, and Joan Cared for her whilst working her Job at the Laundry. Towards the end, her mother did not even know who she was to her. She met and fell in love with John Taylor, a Baker from Blackheath. They Married in November 1960 in Halesowen Church. The following year John's mother died, and the following year Joan's own mother died. Joan became pregnant with her first child who she carried to term but the child was stillborn. In 1964 she would give birth to her second and only child who was born at mary stevens maternity hospital and weighed just 4lb 4oz. She continued to live on Gorsty Hill, being and wonderful mother and wife.

Died 9 Aug 2017. Dudley

Marriage Husband John Taylor. Wife Joan Fletcher. Marriage abt Nov 1960. Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England. ^[4] Child: Robin Taylor.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S1 Volume: 9D; Page: 464; Line Number: 76; Record set: England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005; Subcategory: Civil Marriage & Divorce; Category: Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers); Collections from: United Kingdom, England; REF http://search.findmypast.com/record?id=BMD/M/1960/4/AZ/000408/076
2. ↑ Source: #S2 Volume: 6B; Page: 1457; Line Number: 67; Record set: England & Wales Births 1837-2006; Subcategory: Civil Births; Category: Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers); Collections from: United Kingdom, England; REF http://search.findmypast.com/record?id=BMD/B/1929/2/AZ/000414/067
3. ↑ Source: #S2 Volume: 6B; Page: 1457; Line Number: 67; Record set: England & Wales Births 1837-2006; Subcategory: Civil Births; Category: Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers); Collections from: United Kingdom, England; REF http://search.findmypast.com/record?id=BMD/B/1929/2/AZ/000414/067
4. ↑ Source: #S1 Volume: 9D; Page: 464; Line Number: 76; Record set: England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005; Subcategory: Civil Marriage & Divorce; Category: Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers); Collections from: United Kingdom, England; REF http://search.findmypast.com/record?id=BMD/M/1960/4/AZ/000408/076

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