Nailsea WI lady Joy Makepeace celebrates 100th birthday

A founder member of a Nailsea market celebrated her 100th birthday this week.

Family and friends of Joy Makepeace baked a cake which was shared with shoppers at Nailsea Country Market at Christ Church vestry hall on Friday morning.

Mrs Makepeace who was born at Downend went to school at The Lawns in Clevedon before going to Clifton High School for Girls.

Active in her local community she belonged to the Women's Institute and was a founder member and VCO (voluntary county organiser) of Nailsea WI Country Market which was begun more than 40 years ago in the tin clad Toc H hall at Silver Street.

Born Priscilla Joy Makepeace on March 12, 1913, she moved to Nailsea in 1955 and lived in Fosse Cottage, Fosse Lane, for a decade before moving to Wraxall in 1965.

Mother of Anthea and Jan, Mrs Makepeace has two grandchildren Neil and Mia.

A talented cook, gardener and creative flower arranger she did voluntary social work with Bristol City Council while  her late husband Ernest, a solicitor, was chairman of the parish council in a rapidly expanding Nailsea.

Town issues at that time included the demand by new residents that the name Back Lane was changed to Whitesfield Road to enhance property prices and public toilets replaced the 'sheds' at the back of the Queen's Head pub, said daughter Anthea.

The weekly WI market moved to the Methodist church hall before settling at Christ Church Close and changing its name to reflect changing legislation and its more business-like approach to selling homemade cakes, pastries and preserves.

Mrs Makepeace said that having lots of friends, never being idle and a gin and dry martini were among the secrets of a long and happy life.

She now lives was at Silver Trees Nursing Home, formerly Laurel Court, at The Brockway.

It was here on her actually birthday on Tuesday, March 12, she opened a greetings card from the Queen surrounded by family and friends.

• Nailsea now has the craft and farmers market at Crown Glass Shopping Centre which is an initiative by Nailsea Town Council and held on the third Saturday of every month.
• And the Tuesday Market also operates at Somerset Square and has a dozen stalls selling everything from soap, to wool to homemade preserves. This market which was originally at the Clevedon Road car park moved to Somerset Square in January 2010 from its temporary home at the Link Road car park.
• Fellow resident and retired post lady Milly Wright also celebrated her 100th birthday at Silver Trees Nursing Home this week. Milly, from Long Ashton, has three children, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren, with two of her grandchildren travelling from Hong Kong and Australia to bring special birthday greetings. Milly used to work at her husband John's garage – JH Wright in Clifton – before working delivering the post at Long Ashton Research Station. She put her longevity down to being active. Milly said: "I used to walk and ride my bike a lot – and enjoy the odd glass of sherry."