Joyce Doreen Tippett (10 Apr 1923 - 27 Mar 2018)

In loving memory of Joyce Doreen Tippett who sadly passed away on 27th March 2018.

Joyce Doreen Parnell was born to Dora and Percival Parnell in Tottenham on 10/4/1923.
In January 1929 she was joined by Pamela (Aunt Pam) and together they had a happy childhood.
They both enjoyed dancing and joined the Tilly Vernon and Eunice Russell Dance Troupe where they both performed regularly, mum being popular because she could do the splits leading with her left leg.
In 1939, the war came and Aunt Pam was evacuated to Cornwall (Cambourne), mum staying in London working with Grandad Parnell in the Tottenham Co-op. She once said to me that apart from the air raids and the bombings, she had a quite good war. There were always dances going on which she could go to.
After the war she worked in the x-ray department of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Tottenham.
In 1950 Grandad Parnell retired from the Walthamstow Co-op and became landlord of the Osborne in Deptford where mum worked behind the bar. It was here that she met Dad. Although she enjoyed working in the Osbourne, it unfortunately did not have a spirit license, so if she fancied a gin she had to find someone to take her to the Harp of Erin. It was while at the Osborne that in August 1956, Martin was born.
In 1958, Grandad Parnell decided the publican game wasn’t really for him and he and my Grandmother retired to Clacton.
Mum and Dad moved to Bermondsey and in January 1959 Bian came onto the scene. To help ends meet, mum started working for Peek Freens on the evening shift, where she met Rita and Edie. She also had a job as dinner lady at Southwark Park School, and then Alma, I think as an excuse to keep an eye on Martin. When we were a bit older, mum left Peek Freens and joined Pearce Duffs day shift. She didn’t last too long there, and soon returned to Peek Freens.
During that time we had many enjoyable summer holidays in Clacton, initially staying with Nan and Grandad Parnell, and after it became too much for them, staying in caravans. Initially renting, and then buying their own. At one time they had 4 caravans on Rosebank Caravan Park. They were good times, until the tax man found out, but that’s another story.
Mum and Dad had a busy social life, and could often be found in the local pubs of Bermondsey. I think she even had her own stool behind the bar of the Rose and Crown. It was there she met Carole and Eric, and Doreen and Stan.
They frequented numerous pubs in Bermondsey and rarely left them until the early hours, but the Rose and Crown was their ‘regular’.
Wherever they went, the pattern tended to be the same. Mum on one side of the bar and Dad eventually finding his way behind the bar. He loved being behind the bar. I think it was his favourite place with his favourite phrase being ‘TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE’, although he didn’t practice what he preached.
When Mum retired from Peek Freens, she found she was bored, so in her 60’s she was out looking for work, eventually finding a part time job serving tea, coffee and toast for the office staff of William Sey. She worked there until she was 85 when she finally decided she had worked long enough. She had worked from the age of 16 to the age of 85, so I think she had served her time.
After Rosebank closed, Mum and Dad would regularly visit Uncle Brian in Cornwall.
Dad died in January 2000, but mum kept active and would regularly go on Sheerings holidays at Easter with Rita, Edie and Irene.
Mum led an active and fruitful life although in later life she was not active, she was happy enough as long as she had Judge Judy, Play Your Cards Right and Bullseye to watch on TV.
She was much loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed by all.