Mrs Joan Usmar (nee Forwood), who recently moved to The Oaks Care Home in Newtown, Powys, from Whitstable, Kent to be closer to her family, has celebrated her 100th birthday with her daughter-in-law Susan Usmar and granddaughter Helen Usmar, and staff.
She enjoyed videocalls with her grandson James Usmar, his wife Katherine, and Joan’s great grandchildren Thomas and Emily, and many of Joan’s nieces and nephews and their family from across the UK, Canada and Portugal.
Joan was born in Canterbury in 1921 where she lived with her parents and eight siblings until she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) at the start of war. She was stationed at West Malling Aerodrome in Kent as a Radio Operator where she met Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot Mr Frank Usmar of 41 Squadron.
Helen said: “Joan heard the bombing of hometown Canterbury with Air Traffic Control, hearing the reports while working but never knowing if family survived until she saw them when off duty.
“Near the end of the Battle of Britain, Frank’s parents witnessed him being shot down in his Spitfire. He survived his burns and being shot in the leg to volunteer for Night Fighters flying with 141 Defiant and 410 RCAF Squadrons and became a Blind Approach Instructor before they married in 1943.
“Joan has fond memories of Frank parading at Oswestry on VE Day before he moved into RAF Accountancy. They moved home 29 times with the RAF with admirable resilience, e.g., Joan travelled for three weeks by ship on her own with sons, young Robert and toddler David to Aden.
“Frank retired as Squadron Leader in 1964 and worked at Barclays Bank in Whitstable and Tankerton, Kent where Joan enjoyed the same family home for 47 years until moving into a care home in 2011.
“Joan was active with charity work, notably The Centre Organiser for the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) in Whitstable from 1965 to 1982.
“She loved swimming in the sea, caravanning, and enjoyed an active social life with the RAF and holidays e.g., Hong Kong in her 60s and Canada in her 80s. T
“They enjoyed close family ties with David, Sue and two grandchildren living in Whitstable too and often holidayed together. Robert mostly worked abroad in Asia, Middle East and Africa returning home to Whitstable in 2011 to be closer to Joan.
“Joan was widowed in 1994 and Robert and David died in 2012 and 2011. Joan loves seeing family every week again since moving to The Oaks after Covid-19 lockdowns and “stay local” rules prevented their travel to see her.”
Emma Nicolas-Pugh, Registered Manager of The Oaks, said: “We had a lovely day celebrating Joan’s birthday with all of our residents and we enjoyed hearing lots of stories about her interesting life.”