SHE was born in the same year as the Queen and she even got married in the same year.
Now, Joan Crouch is looking forward to celebrating Her Majesty’s 90th birthday today.
It does feel quite special. I do like the royal family. I am a real royal supporterJoan Crouch
Joan turns 90 on December 5, and today she will join the rest of the country – and much of the world – in marking Queen Elizabeth II’s notable birthday.
Joan, of Gordon Road, Fareham, married her husband Jack on November 15, 1947, five days before the then Princess Elizabeth married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Joan and Jack had four daughters, nine grandchildren and many great-grandchildren together. Jack sadly passed away 10 years ago.
Joan said she is pleased to be marking her milestone birthday in the same year.
‘It does feel quite special. I do like the royal family. I am a real royal supporter.
‘She’s done a marvellous job. It’s important that people celebrate her birthday because she has done good work for the country and she does acknowledge the working class. Let’s hope she reigns for a lot longer.’
In 1997, Joan and Jack were invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the royal couple’s golden wedding anniversary by having a tea party.
‘That was lovely. It was a nice day,’ she said.
‘They had a band stand with the old 1940s music playing.
‘There were so many people there but the Queen looked across to me and smiled. That made my day.’
Graham Morris, from Rowlands Castle, turned 90 on March 26.
He said: ‘I’ve always celebrated my birthday with the Queen.
‘She has always been a month younger than me. It’s something I have thought about all my life.
‘She’s a remarkable woman. She’s done a good job since she was crowned.
‘She’s a woman to look up to.’
Mr Morris, a retired quantity surveyor for the NHS, served in the Royal Artillery between 1944 and 1948 and said he was proud to serve the Queen.
He has been at events where the Queen was in attendance, but he has never had the chance to meet her or shake her hand.
He said: ‘I had the privilege of attending the memorial service at the Royal Albert Hall, the first one after the war when the Queen was there.
‘I’ve also been to two royal garden parties, but I did not speak to her at the time.’
On the secret of the Queen’s success, he said: ‘Her health has been the main thing. I think she had a good tutorial from her father.’
‘I have always admired the Queen for her dedication’
ADMIRATION for the Queen has been expressed by two more nonagenarians.
Vera Biddlecombe, who is a resident at Springfield Care Home in Emsworth, turned 90 last month.
She said: ‘She is a hard worker and a very nice lady. God bless the Queen!’
Margaret Weston, who is a resident at Prinsted Care Home, near Emsworth, turns 90 on Christmas Day.
She said: ‘I have always admired the Queen for her hard work and dedication to the country and her family.’
When asked about turning 90, Margaret said: ‘My mother lived to 96. I have done nothing special, except working for a long time in administration in Edinburgh and London.’
She plans to celebrate her 90th with a tea party in Prinsted.