Joyce Orton (9 Nov 1920 - 23 Sep 2023)

Lovely for us all to gather last Saturday to remember Joyce. Much love, Bob

Sincere condolences to David and family. Sending our thoughts and very best wishes.
From Kate, Paul, Ella, Jacob and Oscar. X

Joyce Orton- Obituary
Joyce Orton was born in 1920 to Bernard Davies, and his wife Frances. In her teens she went to a demonstration in a local park where Oswald Moseley attempted to speak to a largely hostile crowd from the back of a dray. Joyce and her friends were unsympathetic but when stones started to fly they beat a hasty retreat.
Her parents were strong Christians who were members of a small group, the Concordant Bible Society. This affiliation shaped Joyce's life. A believer throughout her life, she met her future husband, Frank Orton in the Bible Society at an early age. They were married when Joyce was eighteen in 1938.
In 1940 they had their first son, Peter. In the middle of the second world war Joyce became pregnant with twins, both girls. Tragically one was still born, and the other, Julie survived only a few weeks.
This event affected them both deeply. In order to make space between them and their loss, they moved from their home in Sheffield to Long Eaton.
There their second son, David was born. Joyce really wanted a girl, but their last child, Paul, was also a boy.
Some time later, when Frank was Tool room Manager at what was then a very large concern, Simms Sons and Cooke, they moved to a house in Sherwood. This was one of a number built by Simms Sons and Cooke for senior employees.
In 1953 Frank decided to start his own company, which he named Orton Saws Ltd. The enterprise manufactured and serviced large industrial saw blades.
After a difficult start the company was successful, Joyce competently taking over the administration.
A feature of life at home for the family was frequent visits from all over the world. For some time in the early fifties we had a family of refugees living with us from East Germany. Later the visitors were co-religionists. Conspicuous and frequent was Bishop Bynoe from the US. Most welcome was a Jamaican cook who made amazing cakes.
Frank and Joyce made visits to religious friends in North America despite Joyce being a notoriously bad travellor.
Joyce played the piano, and played the harmonium at bible society meetings. She always loved classical music, opera and ballet.
When her youngest son, Paul went to school he had initial difficulties. In the early fifties dyslexia had not been recognised, but in hindsight that was what Paul had. His school simply wrote him off.
Joyce never doubted Paul's abilities and was indefatigable in supporting him, and fighting for his appropriate education. Eventually she took him out of the state system and sent him to a private school with a low pupil teacher ratio, where he thrived. Her confidence in him was rewarded when he was awarded a PhD and became a university lecturer.
Joyce delighted in her many grandchildren (seven) great grandchildren (eleven), step daughters (one) step great grandchildren (two), and great, great grandaughter (one).
Husband Frank died in his ninetieth year bringing to an end a very long and happy marriage.
Joyce did not give up driving until well into her nineties.
At ninety nine, because of her extreme frailty she moved in to Sandiacre Court care home, where she settled down well, and was happy.
That was where she died peacefully on the twenty third of September.