Joan Orbell, 95, celebrates launch of new book Risby Remembered with memories of the village, near Bury St Edmunds
A 95-year-old woman has celebrated the launch of her new book about her memories of a Suffolk village she’s lived in all her life.
Joan Orbell, from Risby near Bury St Edmunds, marked the release of Risby Remembered, with a large social gathering to honour the special occasion.
Many people attended the event, including friends and family and people from the surrounding area, as well as a very special surprise appearance from Joan's 97-year-old sister which made her feel over the moon.
She said: “Well, I felt very good about the book but I didn’t think it was going to snowball as much as this though as I didn’t think too many people would read it.
“But I am very pleased with what has come about from it and it has given me a lot of pleasure this afternoon, seeing so many people come and turn up. It’s very exciting.
“My sister, Cicely, who is 97, coming down all the way from the Midlands is a really nice surprise as well. I had no idea they were coming so that really is wonderful for me.”
Joan began writing Risby Remembered around six months ago after she entertained friends and members of the village’s coffee club with stories about the area in the 1930s and was told to write down her recollections before they were lost.
“I’m very grateful to the coffee club for their encouragement to write down my memories,” Joan said.
“I’m also very grateful to Chris Allison who has been very good as he did all the writing for me. Without his help in typing up and editing my words, this book could not have been published without him.”
Joan also expressed her thanks to local printer Profile Business Supplies and Lesley Langley for helping prepare the script for its publication.
All proceeds from the sale of the book are to be donated to St Giles Church in Risby, with chapters including memories from Joan’s childhood at school, the outbreak of the two world wars and a murder in the village.
The large gathering was at the house of Joan’s friend, Patricia House, known as Pat, who she has known for 30 years since moving to Risby.
Pat said: “This afternoon has honestly been so nice for a lot of people. Risby is a really lovely village and there a lot of people here today too which is great.
“I wasn’t born in the village but I’ve lived here for 30 years now, so for me there were a lot of things Joan could tell me about before I came here, and by her talking about her memories here is how this occasion came about.
“Myself and other people in the coffee club were saying it’s such a pity that Joan has all this knowledge about the village but we don’t have a clue, so she should write it all down.”
Joan’s sister Cicely, who travelled down from Redditch with her daughter Penny just for the afternoon, was born in Risby but in 1945 moved north after the Second World War said she was was delighted with her younger sister and her book.
She said: “We’re so very proud of her and she’s coping so well. To think she’s done this at 95 years old is honestly awesome and her memory is fantastic too.
“For a little village like this, the turnout is absolutely brilliant and it's just a wonderful occasion."