Aylsham Manor care home achieves high number of centenarians

A group of energetic women, all over 100 years of age, constitute 25pc of the population at The Aylsham Manor Residential

Among these venerable residents in the Aylsham home is Joan Hinsley, who celebrated her 100th birthday on May 15.

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Joan was born on May 15 1924 in Gravesend, Kent.

The start of the Second World War in 1939 saw a young Joan evacuated to Diss, Norfolk from her hometown.

Following school, she began a career in the Ministry of Food where she was charged with the responsibility of issuing ration books, duties she carried out into the 1950s.

She crossed paths with the love of her life, Aubrey Hinsley, when local offices were amalgamated and transferred to Norwich.

Aubrey and Joan were married on August 4 1952

They set up home in Thunder Lane, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. By then Aubrey was working for the Land Agent’s Department of Norfolk County Council and Joan was a housewife. She enjoyed singing in the local choir.

 The couple then bought the village shop and Post Office in Lower Happisburgh.

Their daughter Joy was born in 1955, and after Aubrey's health forced early retirement in 1985 they moved to Mundesley.

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Following Aubrey's death in September 2005, she had a debilitating fall in 2011.

She spent more than two months at Benjamin Court in Cromer for rehabilitation but decided that she could no longer live in Mundesley and by then it was clear that she was in the early stages of dementia.

She moved to The Aylsham Manor in December 2011.

Her daughter, Joy, credits the exceptional care her mother received at the home for her longevity, and Joan's vivacious zest for life continues to inspire.

The cohort of centenarians at Aylsham Manor, including Joan, Sheila Peal, Sheila Wintle, Megan Woods, Alice Clay and Joyce Sheppard, are said to "remain an embodiment of a life well-lived".