Finding Joyce & Joyce

Joyce Helen Sandeman (1902-1974) aged about 12

When Sentinel 7109 first arrived at Midsomer Norton in December 2004, I and the other seventeen original owners were unlikely to have envisaged the human interest that would come to light many years later.

As prototype to the two Radstock Sentinels, Sentinel works number 7109 ‘Joyce’ had worked at Croydon Gas Works from 1927 until 1960 prior to transfer to Bressingham Steam Museum in 1968 for use in preservation. But, in those 33 years of working life, ‘Joyce’ had amassed a history of her own.

I’d been aware that in 1927 ‘Joyce’ had been named after Joyce Helen Sandeman, the only daughter of the Croydon Gasworks Chairman William James Sandeman OBE.

I discovered that Joyce Helen had been born in 1902 and died in 1974 and that the naming was late in 1927 but it seemed odd to me that a loco would be named after an adult of 25 rather than a beloved child aged between maybe 5 and 15.

A clue was found in that Joyce Helen was described as ‘incapacitated’ in the 1939 registry whilst residing in a care home in Caterham. Thus I speculated that she had either been born disabled or become disabled before she was 25.

Through searching Ancestry.co.uk, I found that Joyce Helen had died a spinster with no siblings, nor any children, although her father had seven brothers and sisters. Thus, somewhere out there would be living distant relatives of Joyce Helen albeit of subsequent generations. I left it at that in 2016 but this year I determined to continue the search initially via local Croydon newspapers.

Before I had a chance to get started, astonishingly, in January this year I received an unexpected phone call from Ian Hocken who told me that Joyce Helen was his great aunt.

We were both very excited at having made contact. Ian told me that he had been at a family gathering last Christmas and the subject arose of great aunt Joyce’s steam locomotive and what had happened to it. So they did an internet search and found my 7109 blog and tons of YouTube videos of ‘Joyce’ in action.

It’s difficult to imagine how they must have felt at the discovery but Ian said they were absolutely gobsmacked. We discussed a little about the family and I was pleased to find that there are still two relations with Joyce Helen’s surname ‘Sandeman’: Elizabeth, who is in her 80s and Jenna who is 18.

After some searching of family albums, Ian sent me four scanned photos of Joyce Helen at ages of about 5, 9, 12 and 25. In the first three, she is a delightful and pretty young girl and clearly enjoying life (Photo). However, at 25, something terrible had obviously happened to her and she is visibly incapacitated. It’s a sad photo but it quashed my speculation that she might have been disabled from birth.

In April, I travelled to Ian’s home in Reigate to meet him and other relatives. I had a wonderful day and was made to feel like a member of the family – we do have a common relative in ‘Joyce’, of course!

Collectively, we don’t know what actually happened to Joyce Helen. A hundred years ago, people did not recover from illnesses that we now consider minor. Of course, WW1 could have played a part and Croydon did suffer bombing at that time. One day we’ll find out, perhaps.

I never thought that when I set out to restore a steam loco that it would lead to finding a new family but, on Saturday 27th July 2019, they came to visit Midsomer Norton station to see and ride behind ‘Joyce’.

Ian Hocken, Jenna Sandeman, Andy Chapman, Elizabeth Sandeman (Photo: Gail Coleshill)

It was an exceptionally enjoyable gathering preceded by an interview on BBC Somerset and attended by many local press and some of the volunteers that had contributed to ‘Joyce’s’ restoration.

I framed a dedication to Joyce Helen and presented it to Ian and Elizabeth on the day.

A Tale of two Joyces

Jenna, Ian, Elizabeth & Andy (Photo: Peter Nicholson)

I wrote a previous article about Joyce in December 2016 which can be found here: http://sentinel7109.blogspot.com/2016/12/who-was-joyce.html. Much of it has stood the test of time.

Who was Joyce?

Sentinel 7109 was named 'Joyce' after the daughter of Mr Sandeman, the chairman of Croydon Gas works where 7109 operated for 32 years until 1960. This is known from "The Locomotives of Croydon Gas & Electricity Works" by J. B. Latham and published in 1970.

New replica nameplate

But that was the easy bit. Current S&DRHT secretary and long standing member, John Baxter, began searching on the Ancestry.co.uk website and I subsequently continued the challenge.

The search began with 'Joyce Sandeman' and 'Croydon'. This revealed only one person 'Joyce Helen Sandeman' and, according to various records, she was born on 1st July 1902 and died a spinster on 12th December 1974.

'Sandeman' being an uncommon name and located in Croydon would appear to be the only lead. Thus all information here is based on Joyce Helen although it could be completely wrong!

Joyce's parents were William James and Annie Charlotte Sandeman. William James Sandeman was the Gas Works chairman and other members of the family had connections with the gas supply industry.

1911 Census Entry

As Joyce died a spinster, there are no children to seek to ask about her so there is no reliable information to tap.

Joyce had two cousins: Ronald Frederick Sandeman, who married Elsie Louise Docking, and Barbara Clare Sandeman who married Cecil George Hine. All of these relatives died in the 1970s or 1980s.

Although I have no public access to this family via the ancestry website, it would appear that there were children who could possibly still be alive and a source of information. It would be lovely to hear from anyone who really knows something about Joyce herself.

I have, however, been speculating a little. I asked myself: 'If I had a steam locomotive where I was chairman of the company, what would be the likely age of my child for me to honour by using their name for the loco?'. In the range 5-15 maybe?

Joyce, being born in 1902, would have been 26 when 7109 arrived at Croydon Gas works in 1928. Seemingly, Joyce was an only child so maybe this could make sense but I'm not convinced this was the reason.

The 1939 census shows Joyce to be in the Cedar Grange Nursing Home in Caterham and described as 'incapacitated'. In that context, 'incapacitated' suggests that she may have been an invalid either from birth or through the consequences of WW1. The incapacity may have meant that she was cared for by her parents and was so dear to them that 7109 was honoured with her name.

This is of course purely speculation. If anyone can shine a light on Joyce, I would be grateful for any information - please leave me a comment to this posting. And, of course, be my guest and come to visit 7109.

Sentinel 7109 Re-Joyced!

9th July 2016 was a day for celebration as Sentinel 7109 was officially renamed 'Joyce' by visiting Antiques Roadshow expert and railway author Paul Atterbury.

The day began with plenty of boiler pressure but nameplate obscured.

Sentinel 7109 (unnamed) raring to go (Photo Callum Willcox)

Paul Atterbury meeting with Andy Chapman & Nigel Dickinson (Photo Michelle Chapman)

7109 re-Joyced by Paul Atterbury with Nigel Dickinson and Andy Chapman (Photo Bob Edwardes)

Zomerset Zoider put to good use (Photo Michelle Chapman)

I've been asked a number of times - Why 'Joyce'?

A very long time ago, works number 7109 was originally named 'Joyce' after the daughter of Mr Sandeman, the chairman of Croydon Gas Works. In Sentinel circles, many refer to 7109 as 'Joyce' so we decided that we should rededicate her with her original name (re-Joyce!).

At the same time, we also wanted to pay homage to the two Sentinels that worked at Radstock from 1928 until ~1960. In their LMS period from about 1930 until 1948, they were painted black and numbered 7190 and 7191. 'LMS 7109' kept the same idea whilst also keeping the 7109 works number. So Sentinel 7109 now carries the Croydon and Radstock identities in her new guise.

Paul's cab ride out towards Chilcompton (Photo Bob Edwardes)

Midsomer Norton's wonderful signal box with Joyce posing in front (Photo Callum Willcox)

Despite Joyce's diminutive size, she is a lot more powerful than she looks. Draw-bar capability is 19,600 lbs according to Sentinel's marketing literature.

Joyce eases up the hill dwarfed by 70 tons of carriage & brake van (Photo Callum Willcox)

I'm indebted to Callum Willcox for shooting and composing an excellent video recording the day's events. It can be seen on YouTube by clicking here. Don't miss it.

Sentinel 7109 as LMS 7109 - Joyce

Needless to say, a great day was had by all - particularly Joyce!

Next day, the S&D's 08 diesel shunter was detached and 'Joyce' hauled the four afternoon trains...