97-year-old great-grandmother from Staffordshire beats coronavirus

A 97-year-old great-grandmother who served as a corporal in theWomen’s RAF during the Second World War has beaten coronavirus.

Joyce Goldstraw, from Leek in Staffordshire, fell ill on Monday, March16 and tested positive for the virus.

She was taken to Macclesfield General Hospital where she was treated for a fortnight.

Hospital measures and rules around social distancing meant she couldn’t be visited by her three children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Her family wondered if the virus, or restrictions imposed by the Government, would prevent Joyce from returning home.

However, against all odds, the near-centenarian made a full recovery and returned home last week after tests showed she had overcome the disease.

Joyce was stationed at Tern Hill RAF airfield, in Shropshire, duringthe Second World War, working on Lancaster Bombers and Spitfireaircraft.

As the country remains in lockdown, Joyce is urging people to listen to the Governments stay at home message so that normality can be restored in time for her granddaughter Alice to be married in the autumn.

Joyce is one of the oldest women in the UK to have beaten coronavirus.