On Sunday 3rd January 2010, a joyous occasion took place at Shrewsbury Unitarian Church, when a special service was held to celebrate the 90th birthday of their much loved and highly gifted organist, Mrs. Joyce Griffiths. The service, which had a musical theme, was led by Mr. Sandy Ellis, and the sixty strong congregation came from far and wide. As well as a strong turnout by regular members of the congregation, there were former neighbours of Joyce’s, members of the Spiritualist Church which also uses the premises and for whom Joyce also plays the organ, and family members from as far afield as Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Los Angeles.At the conclusion of the service, Mrs. Joan Hughes, Chair of the Shrewsbury congregation, presented Joyce with a floral bouquet and invited her to unveil a plaque mounted on the organ to mark her fifty years’ service as organist. She was then invited to cut a birthday cake decorated with chalices and musical notes, made by Miss Sue Davies, before joining everyone in a celebratory drink. The family members then adjourned to the Lord Hill Hotel for a birthday lunch.
