Remembering
Michael & Nicky Joyce.
Michael
Joyce was born in Strood, Kent in 1922. The family; Father, Sidney,
an Engineer, Mother Vera , older sister Doreen, ‘Deen’ &
younger brother Anthony, moved to Bedford in1927, then Little Aston,
Staffordshire in 1929 on to Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire in 1936.
Michael gained a scholarship to Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School,
leaving in 1939, he was Apprenticed to Bellis & Morcom an
engineering company in Birmingham. A family move to Huddersfield
Yorkshire resulted in Michael finishing his Apprenticeship there with
Hopkinsons Ltd. Michael’s Dad gave him an Austin ‘Chummy ‘
baby car, cost £4.10 shillings to enable him to get to work. This
being the start of WW2, Engineering was a reserved occupation giving
exemption from call up into the armed services. In 1943 young Michael
Joyce volunteered for the army and joined the newly formed Royal
Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, REME. He gained a Commission
and began a courtship with Veronica (Nicky) Lansley. No doubt the
Austin Chummy came in handy despite petrol being rationed. The couple
were wed in 1944. So began a marriage of 66 years. Almost
immediately Michael was posted to the Far East, for the next three
years, serving in India & Burma, until the Japanese surrender,
and finally Hong Kong, ending the war with the rank of Major. For a
time he was CO of a TA unit at Folkstone. He also instructed
Gravesend Sea Cadets. Half a century later his Indian Army Unit
invited Michael to India where he was royally welcomed and
entertained by their successors in arms.
Resuming
married life together, Michael & Nicky had one child, a daughter
Susannah who tragically died at 21 years of age. Nicky was a linguist
and later in her life became Secretary of the International
Professional Business Women’s Association and travelled widely in
the course of her work.
They
took up residence at Stowcroft, Chislehurst Kent, with Michael
teaming up with an Old Boy from his Grammar School, publishing
‘Techinview” an Engineering digest moving on to develop a
successful Advertising and Public Relations business; Michael Joyce
(PR) Ltd in the City of London. One of his juniors was Nick Hewer who
later partnered Alan Sugar. Lord Sugar, as he became, was a PR client
of Michael’s firm. In his leisure time Michael showed an
adventurous trait. Learning to fly, he won an aircraft in a raffle,
and the couple flew to France for weekends and holidays where they
had bought a Vineyard in the Garonne Lot district. This inspired
Michael to form another Company, Southern Air Charter based at
Biggin Hill to enable businessmen to attend meetings throughout the
UK and near Continent.
Around this time, in the early
60’s
Michael took up Offshore Cruising under Sail, owning a number of
Hillyard yachts, putting his navigational skills to good use. (LIST
by reference to HOA Archive) One of these, burned to the waterline
following a gas explosion off Keyhaven. In the year 1977, Michael
attended a meeting at the Royal Lymington YC called by Hillyard
sailors, Robert and Pamela Keen. It was there and then the Hillyard
Owners Association was formed with Michael as its first Commodore. He
served in this role, producing newsletters, enrolling Hillyarders,
Charming everyone with his humour and sharing his infectious
enthusiasm for our sea kindly yachts. He published an annual Members
Handbook, keeping the accounts, organising dinners & rallies in
London, Cowes and elsewhere for the next 21 years. These were
memorable for being very convivial ‘dress up’ occasions. The
gentlemen members in Blazers & Club ties and the ladies” as
fashion and good taste dictate”. The venues rather grand. The
Royal London YC on The Esplanade in Cowes, all polished brass &
Race Trophies, and at London Boat Show time in January, at the Naval
Club in Mayfair. The Association presented Michael with an inscribed
silver salver as a mark of appreciation for his efforts. In the
Hillyard 12 ton Lina Arni he attended the Brest Festival in 1988 or
92,following which, a very difficult return passage persuaded Michael
to quit cruising. He was then 69 years of age. He had the 2.5ton
KOALA restored in South Wales and brought her back to the Medway to
potter about in. As a nostalgic reminder of their courtship in the
30’s Nicky bought Michael a 1928 Austin Chummy named “Forgetmenot”
in which they would attend rallies of the Baby Austin Owners Club. In
retirement the two enjoyed many cruises and were especially attracted
to the Blue Funnel Line to African destinations.
In
1998 Michael was looking for help and a successor to progress the
HOA. He took me under his wing and I was proud to continue and try to
follow his example of leadership for the Association he loved and
nurtured.
Nearing
retirement, he bought The Mission House at `Gravesend, a former bible
school founded by General Gordon of Khartoum on the River Thames
opposite Tilbury Forts from where he watched the Thames barge races
from the start line. Later moving to an apartment at Mayfield House
in Sussex where he and Nicky were very content. This idyll was cut
short when the owners sold the property after which the couple moved
to Sunrise Living in Sidcup where they were comfortable up to their
last days, Michael sadly suffering with Parkinsons. This did not
prevent him bravely attending our Dinner at the Naval Club in January
2011 nor enjoying a glass of Champagne and remaining his usual cheery
self.
I
am grateful to Anthony Joyce for a copy of notes spoken at Michael’s
Cremation Service which sadly few Hillyarders were able to attend.
For five years his carer was Claire Ferguson Webber to whom we are
indebted for anecdotes included in this appreciation and obituary of
our late much loved President . Michael died at Sunrise Home Sidcup
on 2nd
July 2010 and Nicky 17 days earlier on the 14th
of June, having each experienced 85 years of very full lives.
We
of the HOA will always treasure their memory. Michael’s invariable
parting to myself, and I am sure others was “ God Bless.”
Michael
Walden
Vice President Hillyard Owners
Association
