Woman killed in crash after evacuee reunion

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A 74-year-old woman died in a road accident as she returned from a reunion for Second World War evacuees, police said today.

Joyce Watson had flown over from her home in Auckland, New Zealand, to attend a service for evacuees at St Paul's Cathedral in central London, as well as a reunion.

But she died when the black Peugeot 107 car in which she was a passenger collided with a silver Ford Focus on the A354 at Martin Drove End, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, at 4.20pm on September 3.

She was returning to Salisbury, Wiltshire, where she was staying with friends.

In a statement, her family said: "Joy was sadly taken from us in a road traffic collision at Martin village, Hampshire.

"Joy was returning from a reunion for the Evacuees Association when the tragic incident occurred.

"She was on her third visit from New Zealand and had also attended the evacuees' service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

"Joy was a complete original, an absolute one-off, a larger-than-life character.

"From childhood talent shows to adulthood, she pursued her obsession with acting. She was warm, opinionated and funny.

"Although she spent most of her adult life abroad, we, together with her daughter in Australia and son in New Zealand, will miss her dreadfully."