After graduating from St Hilda’s College, Oxford, Joan joined the University in 1960 as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Geography, then promoted to Lecturer and Senior Lecturer. She served as Warden of Salisbury Hall and had joint responsibility for Morton House.
In 1977 she left the University to take up the position of Principal of St Mary’s College, University of Durham, but now retired, says her time at Liverpool shaped the rest of her career. “Hall Wardens were ask to serve on the University Senate and, as the only woman, I was put on every committee possible including staffing, finance, choosing a public orator and honorary degree nominations. I didn’t think it was patronising, it was excellent experience!”
Renown for her valuable contributions to the history of meteorology, Joan is an honorary ‘founder’ member of the association of British Climatologists and was awarded the Jehuda Neumann Memorial Prize of the Royal Meteorological Society.
Made an honorary member of the Students’ Union, Joan still visited the University every October for a reunion with former staff and students who studied Geography in 1962. “Up until the start of the pandemic we used to meet for coffee in the wonderful Victoria Building and then walked to 60 Hope Street for lunch” she said.
Now 87, she is still in touch with many colleagues and friends she made in Liverpool who she shares delightful memories with.