Joyce Stevens-Smith
Joyce Stevens first drew breath at the General Lying In Hospital off the Waterloo Road, and it was at this same hospital time some years later that she passed her final Midwifery examination. She trained in midwifery in the West Country after General training in Kent. Duties in the operating theatre and casualty were then enjoyed and after a sad romance there was this urge to travel.
In 1962, first to Gibraltar on a 4 year contract then in 1967 a sea journey and a nursing opportunity at The Matilda and War Memorial Hospital Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was to be her home for the next 26 years. After learning to sail, offshore sailing was her main leisure activity. After participating in many races and the bi annual China Sea Race she was eligible for membership of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. New dimensions were added to her life in 1975. The most important was her marriage in the spring to engineer Eric Smith. They shared the passion of the sea and the Autumn, saw the launch of their sloop ‘Nimrod’ which they sailed every weekend except during typhoons.
Pudd’n the cat, rescued from a cardboard box was added to the crew in January 1983. Whilst nursing in Hong Kong she researched and had published a book about the hospital and the life of the Victorian lady it was named after, who was resident in Hong Kong 1858 – 1893. October 1975 saw the first Matilda Hospital Sedan Chair Race, the race being her idea and she organized it in aid of Hong Kong Charities for the next 18 years. It continues to this day an over 40 Million HK Dollars has been raised for many deserving causes.
After Eric untimely death from Cancer in 1987, Joyce became a keen fundraiser for the promotion for Hospice Care and the building of Hong Kong’s first Hospice. The Bradbury Hospice was openedby HRH Prince Charles in 1992. Retirement beckoned and in 1993 a move to Cawsend, Cornwall and an involvement in village life. Pudd’njoining her after his 6 months quarantine and lived until he was 21years and 6 months.
