Maternity shake-up crusader mourned

11:45am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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A COURAGEOUS former Brockmoor woman who revolutionised maternity ward rules to allow men to be at their partner's bedside during childbirth has died.

Joyce Perry, who had recently moved to The Green in Wordsley to live with her son - internationally renowned painter Robert, died on Friday May 16 after a short illness.

The 85-year-old was a well-known community stalwart in both Brockmoor, Brierley Hill and Wordsley and owned a shop in the village in the 60s and 70s, called Joyce', run by her sister Mary.

Born to Alfred and Victoria Chuter in Brockmoor in May 1923, Joyce attended Brockmoor School and then Brierley Hill Intermediate School in Mill Street.

In June 1942, she married petty officer Ernest Perry, at Brockmoor Wesleyan Chapel in June 1942, before the family moved to Wordsley in 1945. Her husband eventually became head of the art and craft department at The Crestwood School.

During her time in Wordsley, Joyce organised a succession of celebratory street parties for residents in 1951 during the Festival of Britain and for the Queen's Coronation in 1953.

But undoubtedly her biggest achievement was her successful campaign to break the rigid rules of hospital labour wards that meant mums-to-be had to give birth alone.

She began the battle in 1965, aged 42, following the traumatic birth of her twins Andrew and Simon. She wrote to the Queen, organised petitions, was featured on television, interviewed by the Health Minister and had the backing of many MPs in her quest.

And - backed by the Association for Improvement of Maternity Services (A.I.M.S.) - the NHS finally rethought its outdated maternity policy and changed the rules to allow fathers or a close relative to stay with women giving birth.

Joyce's sister Mary Skidmore said: "The result was overall success, as we see the benefits today."

She added: "Joyce was a most extraordinary lady, always putting other people first, before her own interests and sometimes her own welfare.

"She felt strongly about injustices and voiced her dissent several times, through the media and with letters to ministers and MPs for the benefit of others."

"She had such inner strength, energy and enthusiasm for life. We shall miss her terribly as she played such an active part in our lives and was regarded as the matriarch of our family."

Joyce also had a number of office jobs in Brierley Hill in her younger days, working for the Department of Food and Agriculture in Mill Street, during the war years. She also worked for the National Coal Board at Himley Hall, before opening her shop - and later headed up the typing pool at Dudley's Ednam Road, social services department until her retirement in 1983.

In her spare time she was a great charity fundraiser and a member of many groups.

Widowed 18 years ago, she leaves four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held at Wordsley's Holy Trinity Church on Tuesday May 27 at 11am, followed by cremation at Gornal Wood Crematorium at 11.40am.