Afternoon Tea Honors a Family’s British Tradition

Joyce Barlow Hughes was born in Scotland in 1931. Like many children of her era, during WWII Joyce was sent away to boarding school in the countryside in an attempt to keep her safe from bombings. She even shook Winston Churchill’s hand as a young student when he visited her rural English village.

Joyce attended secretarial school and became a typist and shorthand expert. Fast forward to 1959 when she had a part-time job teaching GIs how to dance. That was when she fell in love with and married Wayne Hughes of St. Clairsville, Ohio who was stationed nearby with the U.S. Airforce.

With daughters Theresa, Lynne and Vicki in tow, the Hughes lived in many places around the country before returning to St. Clairesville to retire.

As Joyce’s 92nd birthday approached, her Crossroads in Northeast Ohio care team wanted to plan something extra special for Joyce and her family. They decided upon a traditional British Afternoon Tea served on china.

Typhoo tea, homemade scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam were all served to the delight of those who had gathered. Congregants from Joyce’s church joined in celebrating a tradition from a country a world away where their dear friend spent her early days so many years ago.