Former cafe boss Joyce Bayes dies (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Former cafe boss Joyce Bayes dies

7:30pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Skipton & The Dales

Joyce Bayes, who for many years ran the Penyghent Café in Horton-in-Ribblesdale with her husband, has died aged 82.

Born in Hull, Joyce was the sixth of seven children. Her father died when she was seven, leaving the family largely without means. During the Second World War, their house was destroyed by a bomb and she was evacuated to South Wales.

Her first job, aged 14 was with the Co-op before becoming an operator for Hull Corporation Telephone Exchange where she became known in the region as “the girl with the golden voice”.

She went on to run the telephone switchboard at Fenners in Hull, where she met husband, Peter, and they married in 1953. They loved the Yorkshire Dales and in 1965 they bought Penyghent Café.

Joyce worked unceasingly with her husband in running the business and adapting it to changing social patterns and now it is widely-known among outdoor people.

She had an interest in natural medicines and would scour the country to source natural remedies that have now become mainstream. In 1973 she was baptised as a Jehovah's Witness.

She leaves husband Peter, sons Matthew and Jeremy and daughter Marianne.