Joan Mary Bailey MBE Department of the Environment
The Woman Joan Mary Bailey nee Ellis was born on 27th November 1919 in Lambeth, daughter of Harry J and Mabel F R Ellis and had one younger sister, Muriel. Joan attended Dulwich College and during the third quarter of 1946 aged 27 married Charles Paul Leopold ‘Bill’ Bailey. Bill was a London Costing Account Clerk, and had changed his surname from Schmied during May 1946. He was also a senior figure in the Masonic movement in London and later at the Albany Lodge in Newport on the Isle of Wight, and had served in the Royal Air Force Regiment during World War II. They had no children. Joan and Bill lived next door to her parents at 36 Park Court Road, Dulwich in London, Harry and Mable living at 34. Joan worked for the Department of the Environment in the Ministry of Transport arranging driving tests and associated transport related business. In June 1970 she was invited to attend a Garden party at Buckingham Palace, and in April 1975, the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Harold Wilson OBE FRS, recommended Joan for appointment as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Birthday honours list of that year, which was subsequently approved by Her Majesty The Queen. Mary was appointed to the Civil Division of the Order in the London Gazette of 6th June the same year, and attended her investiture, with Bill and Muriel at Buckingham Palace on 22nd July 1975. Following her retirement, Joan and Bill lived at 14 Greenwood Walk, Newport on the Isle of Wight and enjoyed coach holidays and beer. Somerset was a regular haunt and whilst Bill fished, Joan sat on the harbour wall awaiting his return. Bill died on 20th January 2002 aged 92, at the Roseberry Nursing Home, Watergate Road, Newport and was cremated at the Isle of Wight Crematorium on 28th. Joan lived a further five years and died on 8th October 2007 aged 87. She too being cremated at the Isle of Wight Crematorium in East Cowes on 16th October.
The Story The OBE awarded to Joan Mary Bailey was acquired from Daniel Perriton, a friend of Joan’s who had himself acquired the Decoration following her death. Daniel had been extremely helpful some years previously in helping to locate the family of Leslie Frank Gray, and offered the award so that Joan could be remembered on this web site. Daniel also provided some detail of Joan's life helping to build her basic biography.
Medal Details
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 5 May 16