Jan/Feb - Piddle Valley Community Website

was finally able to take exams and soon promoted to sergeant, with the chance
of an overseas commission once the war had ended but Joan’s wish was to
return to her family and the village she loved. She soon found work in the next
door Post Office where she remained for ten years, only leaving to nurse her sick
mother. Later working in Herrison Hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department.
Joan took a lively interest in local and national affairs through her love of reading
the daily paper and books provided by the Mobile Library; she completed at least
two crossword puzzles a day, joined many village clubs including the pre-war
‘Social Club’ three nights a week, local dances, village shows and whist drives.
With Win Blake, Phil Hawker and sister-in-law Stella Hunt (known as the
Lavender Hill Mob) she visited National Trust houses, theatres and gardens.
In 1953, Joan travelled to London for the Coronation and sat on the pavement
all night, for a prime viewing spot. This year she didn’t have to travel so far to
see the Queen. Following her move to The Hayes Residential home in Sherborne,
she was presented to Her Majesty at a reception there which she described as
the most exciting day of her life. Her many friends will miss the ready kindness
and wicked sense of humour, which stayed with her to the end.
Kristina Pearce-Buckley (1950-2012)
Joran Kristina Fossum was born on 26 th February in Sweden. She moved to
Norway as a young child, where she was raised and educated in Hammar, so
Norway can take much of the credit for making her what she became, a kind
warm hearted, generous woman who enjoyed her family and very wide circle of
friends. This last aspect of her life could be attributed to her background, as
Norway is a small country of around 5 million people, all of whom appear to
know each other. She responded with raised eyebrow to the remark that a lot of
famous Norwegians were explorers perhaps keen to get away, that natural
inquisitiveness and a thirst for knowledge were natural traits in Norway.
Moving to England in March 1969 to improve her English, she met Nigel within
two days of arriving and two years later they were married, spending the next 41
years together. Quickly mastering the English language, Kristina was never slow
to demonstrate her skill and quick to correct any English friends efforts to
pronounce her native tongue. She had many interests in her life and did much
work to benefit others. She was a UNESCO Volunteer Leader for Childrens’
International Summer Villages both in the USA and Europe. She was an active
member of various groups in Piddletrenthide (Garden Club, Book Club, Memorial
Hall Committee, Cycle Club treasurer), ran the Cubs and was the first female
assistant Scout Leader in the country. A leading light in the Twinning Group
together with Nigel, made many friends in Normandy. Early in 2012 Kristina and
friends completed the marathon charity walk in London in aid of Breast Cancer.
Kristina’s love of dining resulted in unusual dinner parties with delights such as
elk, horse and reindeer on the menu; she was incredibly creative with a bubbly
personality. She once beat the Spanish Junior Chess Champion not knowing
how to play the game but winning with purely random moves.
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