David Smith

Said the following about Joy Godsell:

“Joy Godsell is now 77 and still working a 5 day week, as an engineer on the Crossrail project in East London.

Joy started her career in 1960 at the ‘University of Westminster’, formally the ‘Regent Street Polytechnic’. Here she studied for four years on a degree level course in civil engineering. Later gaining chartership status on her first attempt in 1970. During further periods of learning she studied business management at the North East Surrey College of Technology and gained an HNC in heating ventilation and air conditioning at Croydon Technical College. Throughout her long and varied career Joy has worked in numerous sectors including Nuclear, Road Rail and Water. Being involved in such projects as the M1, M40, Thames Barrier and the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station, North Wales.

Over and above such a colourful career history in construction, she also trained as a nurse and midwife, working for a time in Norway. Joy concluded what many would describe as their working life, with a 17 year career in the Royal Mail.

However not content with standing still Joy continued to learn, taking on a BA in the Conservation of Organic Materials in 2009 while also taking the opportunity to travel the globe.

By 2017, Joy, having maintained an up to date CSCS card sought an opportunity for employment through ‘Women into Construction’ and CSJV at C360. From this partnership she started out on an unpaid work placement with the Design Team at Stepney Green on the Crossrail project with the Costain and Skanska joint venture. Before moving on to regular paid employment with the team at the Limmo Peninsula site. She is currently mapping the tidal movements for the planned river wall works, to aid construction of the new railway.

Having met with Joy recently she explained that by offering the role to her, the managers at C360 have given a structure back to her life. Her self-confidence has grown, coupled with a healthier lifestyle, self-satisfaction and the feeling of being rejuvenated working the younger people on the project.

Seizing on her new career, Joy recently told her story at a meeting involving ‘Age UK’, finding quite by accident that her comments were inspiring others of her generation. What an amazing person!“