Following the sad passing of Joyce Thomas MBE DL, Jo Scrivin, former editor of the Ross Gazette and friend of Joyce, has written the below tribute for Ross-on-Line.
“I met Joyce Thomas on almost my first day working at the Ross Gazette, and learnt almost immediately that she was a formidable woman of influence in the town. I grew to appreciate her many interests and talents over more than 20 years working in Ross and I was very sad to learn of her death earlier this week.
“We had kept in touch after I finished working in Ross, and I looked forward to her phone calls and letters, usually containing clipping of news from the Gazette. She was a very special person and, although we often joked that it was a very quiet week in the Gazette if she was not included in one story or another, I knew that her driving force was not personal glory, but to keep attention on the issues she fought for. She was always willing to take a stand for the town she loved and called home for more than 70 years.
“Joyce was not born in Ross and her interest in politics was ignited when at the age of 17 she became the youngest parish clerk in the country to the council in Woolhope. Her secretarial skills were honed here ,and she worked in this capacity for the police authority and for a local GP surgery in later years.
“But it was as a political force that she will be most remembered. She was the first woman to be elected to Ross Town Council and the first female Mayor of Ross, and she broke the records for the number of votes cast when she was elected as a Herefordshire County councillor. She made a formidable team with fellow County Councillor Eunice Saunders, and later worked with Mark Cunningham, Joyce Davies and Anne Gray on many issues to help the town. I particularly recall the hard fought campaign for the waste recycling centre in Ross. She served as vice chairman at Herefordshire Council as well as chair of the West Mercia Police Authority.
“Joyce was married to a teacher at the Grammar School, John, for many years and often spoke of him and the home they created together. Although proud of her political achievements, including being awarded an MBE for her services to the community and serving as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County, she was hugely proud of her family.
“The Joyce I remember was feisty and determined and she always battled hard for her beloved town of Ross-on-Wye. I recall many occasions graced by her presence which made them even more special, whether it was a fundraising event or an awards ceremony. She was known by many as the Queen of Ross and she loved to be called that by the children she often met through her work at local schools. She served many terms as a governor at several primary schools, including Walford and was one of the governors at the new John Kyrle High School for many years.
“Joyce was a loyal friend and when she gave her support to a cause you knew she would do everything she could to help, this included such projects as the instigation of the Dean Hill Park, the founding of Ross Pre-School Playgroup as well as the CAB in Ross, and more recently supporting a hugely successful charity shop run by Iris Price.
“In more recent years the Gazette was proud to report on her support for Ross Town Football club and the work she did with Paul Deneen OBE JP DL nominating the club for a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, alongside a charity which she also backed, Hope Support Services. Her pleasure in gaining recognition for others was a delight to see.
“Almost one of the last highlights of my time in Ross was the visit of the future king and Joyce was also thrilled to be in Ross on the day Prince Charles visited.
“As it is near to International Women’s Day it is especially fitting to think back over Joyce’s long life and her many achievements. She was a trailblazer and truly a woman of influence who enjoyed everything she did, including taking a job at Labels when most people would have been long retired.
“Not having access to all my old records of the many times I interviewed Joyce I have had to rely on my memory to write this, it is a very inadequate tribute to a woman who achieved so much and who occupied a very special place in my heart. I am sure there are many others who will be able to give more details of a life given in service to so many, but she enriched my life in many ways and I am honoured to have been asked by Ross-on-line to provide these words, and I know I am among many who will miss her and her wise counsel very much.”
Picture via Herefordshire History
