Joan Ball facts for kids

Joan Ball, born in 1934, is a clever British businesswoman. She started the very first computer dating service in England in 1964. This was even before similar services began in America! She helped many people find partners using computers.

Growing Up

Joan Ball was born in 1934. She was the sixth child in her family. When she was very young, her mother left. During World War II, Joan was sent away from London to the countryside. This was to keep her safe from bombs.

Joan found school hard because she had dyslexia. She didn't know she had it until she was 39. In 1949, Joan finished school. She got a job as a shop assistant. She had trouble with writing and counting money because of her dyslexia. In 1953, Joan went to live with her aunt and uncle. That same year, when she was 19, she got a job at Bourne & Hollingsworth. She later worked in a dress shop and for a fashion company.

Starting Computer Dating

How It All Began

In 1961, when Joan was 27, she started working at a marriage bureau. A marriage bureau helps people find partners to marry. In 1962, Joan started her own agency called Eros Friendship Bureau Ltd.

Joan found it hard to advertise her service in newspapers. This was because some people thought marriage bureaus were not proper. To get around this, Joan advertised on the radio. She used "Pop Pirates" stations. Her company focused on helping people find long-term partners. She mostly helped older people who wanted to settle down or who had been divorced.

The First Computer Matches

In 1964, Joan changed her company's name to St. James Computer Dating Service. That same year, her service made its first computer matches. Joan used a special computer that many people could share. She got a program that would match people. It used answers from questionnaires they filled out. This made Joan's service the first successful computer dating service. It was the first in both the UK and the US.

In 1965, Joan's company joined with another marriage bureau. They formed Com-Pat, or Computer Dating Services Ltd. Soon after, Joan bought out her partner. This made her the only owner. She advertised Com-Pat in big newspapers like The Sunday Express and The Observer. Joan also ran her first company, Eros, but later sold it. She wanted to focus only on Com-Pat.

Challenges and Selling the Business

In 1970, Joan launched Com-Pat Two. This system also used a questionnaire. It would give people a list of their top four matches.

In 1971, a Post Office strike happened. This stopped all mail for almost eight weeks. It made it very hard for businesses like Com-Pat to work. Also, The Daily Telegraph newspaper stopped printing ads for Com-Pat. This was a big problem because it was their best place to advertise. By 1974, Joan was in debt. She decided to sell her company. She sold it to John Paterson of Dateline. He agreed to pay all of Com-Pat's debts as part of the deal.

Personal Life

In 1961, Joan met a man she called Kenneth in her book. He became her romantic and business partner. They were never married. After Com-Pat ll started, they faced money and personal problems. They separated after eight years together.

In 1973, Joan learned she had dyslexia and depression. Joan is also a convert to Buddhism.