Joan Creek (31 Dec 1932 - 19 Jan 2023)

In loving memory of Joan Creek who sadly passed away on 19th January 2023.

Joan's funeral will be held on the Friday 17th February, details attached. However, many of you are spread around the globe and sadly will not be able to be with us so we will set up a recording of the service so those who would like to watch it from afar will be able to do so. Once uploaded, a link will be added here.

Joan/Mum/Gran/GG - four names but one person and for the most part she was recently referred to as Gran - although she will be Joan here.

Joan was born in Durban on 31st December 1932, to Eileen and Vernon Miller. She lived there until she was 10, when she and her sister Glenda moved with their parents to Cape Town. There she grew up with a group of wonderful friends, most of whom she kept in touch with over the years. Spread all around the world they still chatted to each other right to the very end - remembering great times and still sounding so young at heart.

After leaving school she studied nursing at Groote Schuur hospital, which gave her the opportunity to travel. She worked the winters at UCH in London, and enjoyed summers scootering around Europe with friends. Around this time, she also had a memorable skiing holiday in Norway. As many of you will remember, this is where she happened to meet a young Michael Creek, Mike - who at the time needed a bridge partner - and so began their life long love.

It is not possible to write about Joan without writing about Mike too; married in London on 4th April 1959, they celebrated 62 incredible years of married life together. They made their home across the globe. Starting in London they went to Southern Ireland and then Falmouth where they welcomed the arrival of their eldest daughter Linda. They had planned to then travel to Cape Town but, with the unrest following the Sharpeville massacre, their life took an unexpected turn with an opportunity to work in Jamaica. Travelling there on a 'banana boat', they had a wonderful 6 years in Jamaica - with Karen and Ian joining the family. Mike then continued in Research, joining the United Nations and the family then moved first to Rome, then Kenya and Egypt and back to Rome.

Joan had the ability to re-create our home anywhere. Her charm, love & interest in people meant that they forged great friendships throughout their travels and made each and every place we lived in feel like it had always been a part of us.

With all their children settled in the UK, they "semi-retired" to Oakhurst, in the New Forest, and Mike introduced golf into their lives - a great addition which Joan approached with her usual enthusiasm and they both enjoyed enormously. Whilst there, they enjoyed the weddings of Linda to Tuk and Karen to David, both great additions to their family, and the births of 5 of their 6 beloved grandchildren - Beth, Michael, Hugh, Alastair and Stuart.

In 1997 they moved to Peasash Farm, where they spent 25 extremely happy years. In 1998 they welcomed their 6th grandchild Emily and more family highlights were to follow when Ian married Nicky that summer - another great addition. Nearly 20 years later, they were delighted to welcome Jo into Linda’s life and also celebrated the arrival of 2 great grandsons, Theo and Alexander.

Joan and Mike always lived life to the full and Joan was the photographer in every country and at every occasion, her photograph books are legendary. At nearly 70 she fully immersed herself in digital technology - editing and printing all her own photographs (occasionally adding children who weren't actually there so they weren't left out... or adding someone in twice!) An amazing history of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who they adored and were incredibly proud of. They loved spending time with family and friends - continuing to ski, play golf and enjoy bridge well into their eighties... not to forget the annual drive across Europe. Even in their eighties, Joan refused to get on a plane, preferring the 3 day drive, meeting up with friends, staying in their favourite boutique hotels and, of course, creating more memories.

Joan was an inspiration. She never gave up, was always cheerful, saw the good in everything and everyone. To the end she was always positive and had generosity of spirit which was extraordinary. She had such a full, happy and complete life - we have so much to celebrate.

We will always love you.