Joan Francis (11 Feb 1929 - 15 Jan 2017)

In loving memory of Joan Francis who sadly passed away on 15th January 2017

Joan Francis was born on 2nd February 1929 in Cornwall. She was the youngest of three children. Noreen, the eldest, then Les. The Niles were to become famous over the years for their bakery. Mum was always so proud of her family roots in Cornwall and loved to talk about them, especially Les.

Mum had very little when she was a child she said that she had been given a bar of chocolate for Christmas one year and was so excited to eat it, except the dog got there first! Mum loved the coast and spent many summers with Michael and the children in St Austell enjoying the Cornish beaches.

Because of her frugal childhood, she always wanted her children Alison and Paul to have the very best chance. Joan and Michael made sure Paul and Alison had everything they ever wanted from a horse for Alison, motor bike for Paul and cars for both!

Growing up, she always insisted on us having Clarks shoes as she never had new shoes, they were always hand downs.

Joan always wanted to learn how to sew professionally, but there was not choice other than being sent out to work in a chemist shop in St Austell. She always says she loved working in that chemist dispensing medicines.

When Joan and Michael got married, they moved to Surrey as there were more prospects for Michael. Alison and Paul were both born at Epsom hospital.

Joan was a incredibly hard worker, she used to work at the local bakery in Worcester Park and a factory in the evenings. Always running here and there and super proud of her home. She took great interest in her interiors and was always looking to ‘give it a lift’ as she says…She did have dad running around!

Joan used to get roped into doing Alison’s paper round so she could go and see her horses and never moaned!

When Michaels company moved to Salisbury, she used to work at a home for handicap children which she absolutely loved. Alex and Leigh, their grandchildren spent many a holiday with their grandparents playing by the local river. Those were very happy times.

Mum had extraordinary energy, she’d think nothing of cycling into Salisbury three times in one day if she forgot anything. She loved to cook and there was always freshly made cakes, scones and Cornish pasties at hand.

Mum was a beautiful compassionate lady and loved animals. This Christmas, the only programme she was interested in seeing was the Battersea dogs home programme. She used to cry at the drop of a hat if she ever heard or saw cruelty to animals, in fact, her regular charity was the RSPCA.

Instead of flowers, mum would love donations to the charities we know would have been close to her heart. Many thanks

Alison and Paul