Joan Hatfield (née Reynolds) was born in Dersingham, Norfolk in 1919 and attended the local primary school. In 1930, she won a scholarship to Kings Lynn High School, and two years later won an additional scholarship after taking Maths and English examinations.

At age 16, Hatfield became interested in studying mathematics at university, and although she was told it would be difficult to win a scholarship in that subject area, she applied herself diligently to her studies. She took her Higher School Certificate in History, Geography, English and French, and had extra Latin lessons to prepare for a university scholarship examination. She had never expected to go to university, but succeeded in winning a county scholarship worth £120 a year, which enabled her to pursue her aspirations to enter higher education.

Hatfield chose to attend Queen Mary College because two girls from her school were already there. In 1937, she began studying geography with history as a subsidiary subject. She matriculated in geography, history, French and English during her first year and successfully completed her degree in 1940.

There were difficult times through Hatfield's students days. Her mother died at the end of her first year, however she still succeeded in passing her matriculation examinations. After spending two months during the summer of 1939 in France teaching English, she had to return to England early due to signs of war breaking out. She arrived back home just a week before war broke. Hatfield was amongst the QMC students who were evacuated to Cambridge during the Second World War. She therefore spent her last year of university at Girton College, Cambridge.

Joan Hatfield is pictured here curtesying as she is presented to HM Queen Mary at the opening of Lynden Hall of Residence for Women in South Woodford in May 1939.

After graduating from QMC in 1940, she attended the Institute of Education to train as a teacher, and was again evacuated, this time to Nottingham. It was in Nottingham that she met her future husband, Percy Hatfield, who was studying physics. She went on to teach at a grammar school in Yorkshire, and during this time Percy undertook radar training with the RAF and was sent to the Isle of Harris in the Hebrides.

In 1942, Joan and Percy planned to get married, and their wedding took place earlier than planned due to Percy being stationed overseas. A week after the wedding Percy sailed and Joan did not know where he was going, though later found out that he was in India. During the three years her husband was in India, Joan carried on teaching.

After Percy returned to England in 1945, they started a family, having two daughters and one son. Joan continued teaching part-time.

In 1964, Percy took a post in Germany, and whilst living there Joan taught English in a Gymnasium and studied German. From 1972, they spent 5 years in the United States and during that time Joan discovered her love for creative activities and took up pottery, jewellery-making, patchwork and embroidery.

On returning to England, Percy retired, and Joan taught at a local language school in Devon and began painting and wood sculpting. In 2000, they moved to Bristol to be nearer to their 2 daughters. Joan's husband died in 2002, after caring for him for several years.

At the age of 85, Joan sailed down the west coast of South America, stopping in Peru and doing a side trip to climb Machu Pichu. She then visited the Antarctic, which was lifelong ambition. The desire to travel and see new places and people, which started when Joan studied geography at QMC, has been an important part of her life. Joan currently has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and lives in Devon. She continues to travel and to pursue her creative activities.