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NEWS
What has happened in the valley?
Chapel Lawn’s ex-headmistress, Jocelyn Williams died on 20th February this year (2023). Her funeral was held at Llanfair Waterdine and the following is her eulogy by David Davies.
Ladies and Gentleman it is great honour for me to be asked to stand up here before you all today and say a few words about Joce. She will be sadly missed by all; to some she was Mum, to others Grandma or Great Grandma or Aunty Joce, Mrs Williams to many, but to most just simply Joce.
There is no doubt in my mind that she was the kindest and most thoughtful person you could ever wish to meet; unassuming, always there if you needed some help or advice and for me personally, I was lucky enough to have Joce as an aunty, without doubt the best aunty you could ever wish for.
Joce was born at home in Lloyney in 1930, daughter to Wilfred and Lucy Jones and younger sister to Brenda. Wilfred was a carpenter/wheelwright who also sold petrol for a living at the family home, Underhill.
A happy home in a special place, where friends and memories were made. Walks up to the top of Lloyney Rock on a Summers Day, Lloyney Methodist Church 3 times on a Sunday; a community where everyone knew everyone. Daily visits to see her Grandparents at Bwlth Y Plain were common place.
Joce attended Llanfair Waterdine Primary School but missed some 2 years aged 6 and 7 when she suffered ill health with an abscess on her lung. She moved on to Presteigne Grammar School where she excelled academically as well as making a name for herself in the school hockey team and with her long jump prowess on the athletics field.
In the war years life was different and Wilfred and Lucy took in evacuees from Kent and Liverpool, who are still in touch to this day through Rita Robinson and Megan Gordon; that community spirit again, spreading its net to help those who needed it most.
Joce moved on to Hereford Teacher Training College and then, once qualified, came back to teach alongside big sister Bren at Knighton Primary School, a school that could now boast it had two Miss Jones’s. Joce and Bren were exceptionally close and they lost their beloved mother, Lucy, to cancer aged just 52 in 1949. Joce was 19.
Joce was one of the founding members of Llanfair Waterdine YFC alongside Uncle Jim, Bren, Harold Gwilt, Fred Bevan, Westley Price and Ron Morris to name but a few. It is where they enjoyed such fun putting on productions and dances. She served as Secretary and Chairman. There was one such trip when the country clan from Llanfair headed to London for the YFC AGM, staying in the Regents Palace Hotel in Regents Street, a far cry from the Teme Valley. They had such fun, the girls hiding in their room as John Morgan ably assisted by the other boys was caught red handed leading a raid up the corridor armed with pillows and taking no prisoners!!
Joce was part of the great excitement in 1953 when Lord John Hunt conquered Everest. Lord and Lady Hunt lived at Weir Cottage just outside Llanfair, where Lady Hunt was living when this momentous event was achieved. So apart from the Queen who was celebrating her Coronation, the good folk of Llanfair found out before the rest of the world.
In 1956 Joce and Jim were married; they had known each other most of their lives. On the wedding day, Joce was thrown into a dilemma when the heel on her shoe broke. Look no further than bridesmaid Bren, who gave her shoes to Joce and spent the rest of the day wearing Joce’s shoes, which had been repaired with a 4” nail.
In 1959 they started a family and Sal was born followed by Simon and then Kate.
Joce returned to teaching in 1965 when she took up a post at Chapel Lawn Primary School and would remain there for the next 20 years. She would become a stalwart in keeping it from closure on many occasions. She was part of the furniture till it closed in 1985 while she was still headmistress.
I was lucky enough to be one of her pupils and my fondest memories would be her stories of Benjy Bunny (she later had a book published of these stories; The Tales of Bobsi Bunny) and the nature walks, but most of all, her Long Jump practice sessions for Bucknell Sports. For many years, “The Lawners” as we were known by Joce, carried all before them at the Sports Day; but without Joce running us through our paces in Jack Adams Field out the back with her skirt tucked up in her tights, things may have been different. A far cry from the modern Olympian !
In the holidays Joce was always helping Jim and Harry, the farm hand, around the farm, especially at Harvest. I remember the panic that would set in when it was announced the week’s annual holiday to Borth was in jeopardy as the harvest wasn’t finished. As families, we were brought up exceptionally close to each other and we would holiday together on the coast. Even Will, Lou and myself would be up lugging bales to ensure we all made the holiday. Joce was a welcome sight in the harvest field as she always brought the much needed food and drink !
Borth was great fun, for a week every year; meeting up with other families for car treasure hunts and fishing trips in Pete’s boat with Jim as acting Head Mechanic. Joce was always relieved to see the boat back on shore and had tea and cake all prepared. She continued to enjoy her stays at Borth with the children and grandchildren and was always happy to participate in whatever game they chose.
The family Christmas parties at Brackenway still warm the memories today. Even Joce’s infamous game of “Nelsons Eye” which frightened the living day lights out of us. In a darkened room, she would pass various artifacts around that were found on the “wreckage” while vividly recounting the story. One such article handed round was a peeled grape. Just as it was passed to my sister Louise, Joce announced it was ‘Nelsons Eye’; I can still remember the screams as Lou held this ‘squidgy’ item in her hand. To top it off, Jim then stepped out of the wardrobe dressed as a ghost ! Looking back she had us in stitches.
Joce often had us in stitches over the years with those little things in life that went wrong. Like when talking on the phone to the blind man who she hadn’t been able to ring having lost her glasses and couldn’t find his number. She was heard saying down the phone “Well Dick, I would have rung earlier but I’ve lost my glasses and couldn’t find your phone number, you’ve no idea what its like not being able to see”! Or when she rescued the injured backbird and rang the RSPB who dutifully sent someone all the way down from Telford, only for Joce to open the shoe box and the bird to fly off into the distance! Or when shopping with Bren in the New Year sales, trying on some expensive shoes, to find someone had taken hers. The manager offered Joce the expensive shoes to make amends, but that wasn’t Joce; she searched that store till she found a lady queuing up to buy hers and made sure she got them back.
Once we had all grown up, Joce and Jim along with Bren and Pete and often Joan Adams from the Vedw, would venture away for holidays; Egypt, Moscow, Italy, cruises and many more. Pictures would emerge of them all riding camels or dressed in Cossack gear !
Joce and Jim moved from their home at Brackenway down to the main farm at Monaughty Poeth in 1982, where Joce became the perfect farmers wife as well as doing Bed and Breakfast, belonging to the South Shropshire group.
If you entered the kitchen you were always made welcome by Joce and often Maureen who along with Granville helped Joce and Jim – Joce would often issue the warning “there’s only one rule here….its every man for himself”
The last few years Joce has seen the family grow with Monaughty being the perfect place for them to visit. Joce adored her grandchildren and was immensely supportive and never missed a school play, Village or Young Farmer pantomime. She also enjoyed the family impromptu nativity plays they did at Christmas when they would rifle through her wardrobes and jewellery looking for fancy dress clothes .
Joce took a keen interest in everybody’s lives, especially children, and was a wealth of knowledge. She loved seeing the many visitors; everyone was welcomed and wouldn’t be able to leave without a coffee and a cake. So many of the local community have played their part in helping out with Jim and latterly keeping an eye on Joce, to which I know all the family really are truly grateful. Once again, that wonderful community spirit which Joce enjoyed all her life. There are just too many friends and family helpers to mention without accidentally leaving someone out. But Di, whose daily visits helped Joce so much in recent times and Harold, who acted as volunteer taxi and putting a log or two on the fire, do deserve a special mention.
Joce will be greatly missed in the community, but her memories are written down for posterity in a book she wrote with Bren; Llanfair Waterdine…A Parish Remembered.
I can hear her now saying “Well Boys, its time to move on” and in her own inimitable words, “well I must scootle along now.”
Fond memories of Mrs. Jocelyn Williams, our primary school teacher by Rosemary Thomas (Middleton)
The largest part of this article is taken from the eulogy given by Joce’s nephew David Davies (above) at her funeral on March 15. I have added in some personal memories of my own and from other old pupils.
Mrs Williams, as she was to us, died 20 February 2023, aged 92. She was Joce to many; my Mum, Annie Middleton for one, with whom she was friends for many years.
Mrs Williams was born at home at Underhill, Lloyney in 1930, to Wilfred and Lucy Jones. She had an older sister Brenda (Davies) with whom she taught at Knighton Primary School:
Sheila Davies said “I first met Mrs. Williams (as I always called her), I guess because she was my infant teacher (2nd class), then Miss Jones at Knighton Primary School and very well liked. Her sister Brenda was a teacher in the 3rd class. I remember going with Mum and Dad to anniversaries at Lloyney Chapel and then to the Jones’s home for afternoon tea. I remember going to her newly built house which looks down towards the River Teme, to see their wedding presents.”
Joce was one of the founding members of Llanfair Waterdine YFC alongside her husband to be Jim, where they enjoyed putting on productions and dances. She served as Secretary and Chairman.
Joce was part of the great excitement in 1953 when Lord John Hunt conquered Everest. Lord and Lady Hunt lived at Weir Cottage just outside Llanfair, so the good folk of Llanfair found out before the rest of the world. My Mum was on The Mall watching the Queen’s Coronation when the news came through that Everest had been conquered. It was raining, and had been most of the night, but she said that lifted their dampened spirits, with the connection to home.
In 1956 Joce and Jim were married, they had known each other most of their lives. In 1959 Sally was born followed by Simon and then Kate. Joce returned to teaching in 1965 at Chapel Lawn Primary School and stayed until the school closed in 1985, when she was Head. She fought on many occasions to keep it open. I remember many campaigns to save the school that Mum and the community fought so hard.
Many of the younger ones have fond memories of Bobsi Bunny. Kathy Groom,(nee Adams) now living in Australia, said “She was such a lovely lady. When I was over I used to take Mum (Connie) up for a cuppa. She always tried to get me to call her Joce but it didn’t sound right, so she was always Mrs. Williams to me. (My) daughter Claire, remembers her using Bobby Bunny as a teaching tool for maths, english or anything else. Claire still has her copy of that book and we read it to the grandkids at my birthday picnic. She was a special lady and had a wonderful way with everyone, always full of energy, especially for the school concerts!” Her second book was of her own memoirs and are written down for posterity in a book she wrote with sister Brenda; “Llanfair Waterdine…A Parish Remembered”.
Nature walks are another memory and as David and Cath Stead mentioned, so too her long jump practice sessions for Bucknell Sports. “The Lawners” were put through their paces by Joce with her skirt tucked up in her tights. Cath said “I always remember Mrs. Williams would show us how to do the long jump. She used to train us in the back field behind the hall. Mr. Adams (Anne’s dad) used to make the long jump pit and running lanes. He was our tug of war coach too and between the two of them, Chapel Lawn won so many Sports Days!”
Joce and Jim moved from Brackenway to the farm at Monaughty Poeth in 1982. She did Bed and Breakfast and had a Caravan Club site. James said that Joce always thought of him when they were full and regularly passed on bookings to him at Chapel Lawn.
Joce adored her seven grandchildren, was immensely supportive and never missed a school play, village or Young Farmer pantomime. She also enjoyed the family impromptu nativity plays when they would rifle through her own wardrobes and jewellery.
Joce loved seeing visitors and everyone was welcomed and wouldn’t be able to leave without a coffee and a cake. I was walking with my cousin Barbara very near to Monaughty one day and we called on Joce. Indeed, the coffee and cake were duly on offer. As too Cath Stead remembers; “When I’ve called on her in the last few years at the farm, I always had to have a cup of tea and cake. She loved talking about the Chapel Lawn Valley, the children and their families.” She was always such a caring, compassionate and all round beautiful lady, inside and out.
Colleen Henderson has a memory that may need some verification, but interesting anyway! “What sticks in my memory the most, is when Mrs. Williams organized for us to see The New Seekers at Bucknell Memorial Hall. It was the first ‘gig’ I ever went to. Whenever one of their songs comes on the radio, I always think of her.” Colleen would love to know if this is correct or not?!
John Richards (Jack) says “I remember the big collage we had a hand in putting together. It was on the wall in the Doctors surgery in Knighton for years. Can’t remember what the picture was though, I think she instigated it. I remember not wanting to go to school one day because I wasn’t getting any stickers; I think that was soon remedied and I began getting them if I earned them or not.”
Ella Edwards (nee Wilding) remembers while walking past Chapel Lawn School this week; “I was reminded of the handbell that Mrs. W would ring on the step to mark the end of break. She represented all that was good in our 70’s childhood. I have a funny little memory of being caught out for stealing some shiny new plasters off her desk (my nursing ambition started young!). My misdemeanor was exposed in a bag check and I was appropriately shamed. I think we all wanted to please Mrs. W and that was a lesson I didn’t forget. I always think of her in stylish 70’s sweaters, skirts and heels. Plus all the coaching and effort of putting on the Christmas show, handmade costumes and recorder playing; definitely Mrs. W’s thing. Auntie Connie on the piano-what a team!”
One day during lessons, I passed out in the ‘little room’ from fumes from the massive old stove in there. I vaguely remember being shaken by Mrs. Williams to wake me up. My ability to embroider is solely as a result of being taught cross stitch by Mrs. Williams. I still have a needle case I made in primary school under her supervision. I remember the stage productions – that stage seemed huge! The collage already mentioned, which had every house as they were then, under the shadow of the Camp; the school bell, at the end of break. We would be outside running about playing tag and all sorts of games, while Mrs. Burn, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Bowdler the school cook, had their coffee in the canteen sat on high stools around the stove.
The main comment from all who contacted me was that she was a lovely lovely lady. Joce has figured in my life throughout; from school and beyond. Always there and it was always so lovely to see her. The last time I saw her was at her grandson Tom’s wedding in July 2022, when she looked so glamorous and so happy. A very special lady indeed.
Rosemary Thomas (Middleton)
Chapel Lawn Village 