Picture left to right: Christine Edwards, Meriel Fiddes, Derrick Batson (chairman), Joy Granger
It is with great sadness we announce the death of Joy Granger on 13th September 2024.
I first met Joy in the late 1970s. She was working and playing Table Tennis for Strongs Brewery and Tony Prichard brought her to the club to see if she could play tennis! She obviously could as she was in the team within a week! She played in the Ladies and Mixed teams and everyone was hopeful that they would be partnered by Joy.
I recall that one Summer she was on holiday on the Thames and Rita Donovan and I drove to the Walton on Thames to bring her back to play in the ladies team and then back to Walton after the match! For many years before we stopped playing competitive matches we were permanent partners with Joy skilfully managing the backhand court. Between 1984 and 1993 she won the Ladies' doubles Tournament 5 times.
Joy was born in Oxford in1946 where she lived until she met Derek on holiday in Newquay. They were made for each other and kept in touch after the holiday. With Joy living in Oxford and Derek in London is was inevitable that they would marry so that they could be together for ever! Their 3 children Derek Junior (Del) , Sally and Penny were all members of Romsey Tennis Club. After Derek died in 2011 I took Joy to stay with my daughter Gemma and family who lived near Oxford. My twin granddaughters were about 3 months old and Joy and I took them for a drive around Oxford and Joy showed me her homes, Grammar School and Tennis club. As a child her father used to take her to watch Athletics and she was at the meet at Iffley Road where Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile in 1954.
Derek was a keen Golfer and one time Captain of Wellow Golf Club. Eventually Joy took up golf and worked hard and reached a high standard of play. She played in the Wellow teams and was on the committee for many years.
For a few years before the covid lock down Joy played Tennis with the Thursday Ladies. She had been on the committee for many years and made a tremendous contribution and was made a life member of the club. At this time we played nine holes of golf on a Monday morning although if the weather was iffy she was very happy to sit in front of the wood stove at Courtens Garden Centre at Whiteparish!
A testament to what a lovely person Joy was — my young daughter Marsha's godmother died and we told her she could choose herself another godmother. She had no hesitation in choosing Joy, the nicest person she knew!
Meriel Fiddes