Joyce Mary Taylor Lancashire born Joyce Taylor is the daughter of an RAF Officer and spent her youth moving from one camp to another both in this country and overseas.Joyce became Mayor in May 2008 Arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1957, she has lived here ever since and definitely considers this her "home" town. Joyce married Nat in 1960 and has two sons both living in Stratford with their families and between have afforded them eight grandchildren. Career History Joyce trained as a hairdresser and beautician, but in later years has worked in the field of debt recovery and management, before working as Nat's secretary in his engineering business. Since "retiring" Joyce has worked for The Sue Ryder and the Motor Neurone Disease societies and also works as a part-time guide for a local tour company.

Liberal Democrat for Mount Pleasant since 2004 Photo courtesy of Simon Foster Studio

Community Interests
Councillor Mrs Taylor fought an extremely successful election in 2002 in the Mount Pleasant Ward following the untimely death of Cllr Mrs Val Adams, and has fought a second election this year when again she "topped" the poll.

She serves on the Council's Finance and Scrutiny Committee and is Vice Chairman of the Planning Consultative Committee. Joyce is also on the
Town Hall Management and Heritage Open Days Sub-Committees.
Joyce is also Council’s appointed representative to the Stratford branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau.  She is a governor of Bishopton Primary School and serves as a trustee of the Mayors Fund, a local charity set up to help Stratford's own residents.

Leisure Activities
The past saw Joyce competing at national championship level for the Amateur Swimming Association until she suffered heart damage following rheumatic fever.

She is well known locally as an extremely versatile singer and actress and  in her younger days has been involved with many local operatic and drama societies.   More recently she turned her hand to directing, all the while successfully fighting breast cancer.  As Joyce says "I'm a real fighter, and now I hope to put some of that fighting spirit into my Council work.