Joyce Purser
Albert William Viney was mayor of Peterborough in 1946 and his daughter Joyce Purser was his Mayoress.
Joyce lived at Woodbyth between the late 1950s and early 1980s, she later lived in Mayfield Rd.
Obituary: PURSER Joyce, late of Woodbyth, Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough, youngest child of the late Alderman and Mrs Viney, widow of Jack Cobden Purser and beloved mother of Louise, Adam, Benedick and Charlotte, died peacefully on Sunday 20th April 2008 aged 89 years. Funeral service at All Saints Church, Park Road on Monday 28th April at 2.30 p.m., followed by a green burial at Ketton Park, Ketton. Family flowers only. Donations for “Amnesty International” may be sent to John Lucas, Funeral Directors, 31 Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough, PE1 3AD.
Tributes paid to former mayoress
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayoress who dedicated her life to helping others as well as being a major supporter of many city groups and charities.
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayoress who dedicated her life to helping others as well as being a major supporter of many city groups and charities.Joyce Purser could lay claim to have one of the most glittering CVs the city has ever seen, after giving every spare minute of her time to lots of worthy causes.
In fact, veteran city councillor Charles Swift, paying tribute to Mrs Purser, who died last Sunday aged 89, said: “There has been no one woman who has been more prominent in Peterborough’s society”.
Grandmother-of-six Mrs Purser was a former mayoress, after filling the office when her father, the late Alderman Albert Viney, carried out the term in 1946.
Today, Mrs Purser’s youngest daughter, Charlotte, said she was a “generous, kindhearted, caring woman” who devoted her time to helping others.
Charlotte, who has two elder brothers, Adam and Benedick, and one sister, Louise, said: “Not only did she help people in Peterborough, but she also cared about people all over the world, and was a keen supporter of Amnesty International.”
Perhaps Mrs Purser’s biggest legacy will be her work with Victim Support.
Mrs Purser, who lived most of her years in Mayfield, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, helped people who had to endure terrible tragedies or had been exposed to evil crimes put their lives back together.
She devoted about 25 years to the service after retiring from the magistrates’ bench in 1983, and was even praised by former Prime Minister Tony Blair at a glittering Downing Street function.
Mrs Purser moved to Peterborough as a child and went to Peterborough’s County Grammar School, before receiving a law degree from Oxford University.
She married husband Jack at Peterborough Register Office in 1941, and they started a family living at their Dogsthorpe home. Jack passed away 14 years ago.
Cllr Swift, who knew Mrs Purser for many years, said: “She never missed a civic service. Whenever the city marked a remembrance day, Joyce would be there. She was a truly remarkable woman.
“She did a terrific amount for young people, and can lay claim to being one of the most prominent members of the Peterborough community ever seen.”
Mrs Purser’s funeral takes place at All Saints Church, off Park Road, at 12.30pm on Monday. It will be followed by a green burial at Ketton Park, near Stamford.
Donations for Amnesty International can be sent to John Lucas Funeral Directors, 31 Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough, PE1 3AD.
Former mayoress is laid to rest
HUNDREDS of people packed into a city church to pay their last respects to a former mayoress who played a key role in the Peterborough community.Joyce Purser’s funeral was held at All Saints Church, in Park Road, after she passed away earlier this month aged 89.
Mrs Purser was a leading figure in the city for more than 60 years.
She was made Peterborough’s mayoress in 1945, when her father, Albert Viney, fulfilled his term in office.
Mrs Purser then went on to become a magistrate for 17 years, as well as standing as chairwoman for a number of groups, including the police and probation committee.
Perhaps Mrs Purser’s biggest legacy will be her work with Victim Support.
Mrs Purser, who lived most of her life in Mayfield, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, helped people who had to endure terrible tragedies or had been exposed to evil crimes to put their lives back together.
She devoted about 25 years to the service, and was even praised by former Prime Minister Tony Blair at a Downing Street function.
Veteran city councillor Charles Swift, paying tribute to Mrs Purser, said: “There has been no one woman who has been more prominent in Peterborough’s society”.
Mrs Purser was laid to rest at a green burial held at Ketton Park, near Stamford.
Youngest daughter Charlotte said: “She was conscious of her carbon footprint, and this is what she wanted.
“We will miss her terribly.”
Mrs Purser married husband Jack at Peterborough Register Office in 1941, and they started a family living at their Dogsthorpe home. Jack passed away 14 years ago.
They had four children – Adam, Benedick, Louise and Charlotte.
From ET 2007 "Dances were a regular occurrence at Peterborough Town Hall during the Second World War to keep up the spirits of Peterborough residents.This dance is thought to have taken place in 1943, and pictured are a number of council officials as well as Czech soldiers who were stationed at RAF Mildenhall.
A photograph was brought in by Joyce Purser, nee Viney, of Mayfield Road, Peterborough.
Mrs Purser is the third person from the left in the second row.
Other people in the photograph include Mrs Bryant (fifth from the left in the front row), who during the 1930s had been the first female mayor of the city.
The seventh person from the left in the front row is Alice Smith, who was the city treasurer’s wife.
Mrs Purser also remembers another regular occurrence in Peterborough life.
Beginning in the early ’50s, the city’s first director of education, Leslie Tait organised for teachers from Commonwealth countries who were spending a year in England studying education to visit Peterborough for a week.
Mrs Purser has many fond memories of having visitors to stay at her house with her husband Jack and their four children.
She said: “It opened a window on the world to us. When they arrived they were given a reception by the mayor.
“Personally we always had a party for their last night and invited a lot of our friends round and they enjoyed that.”
About 20 visitors would come to Peterborough annually and the tradition continued for about 20 years.