A 108-year-old has received hundreds of birthday cards after a plea from colleagues at the care home where she lives went viral.
Dorothy Flowers celebrated her birthday on 22 October, waking up to a flurry of cards from strangers all over the world, with some coming all the way from Bangkok,
Las Vegas and Australia.As well as the 654 cards that landed on her lap, Dorothy also received a range of gifts to mark the special day including gin, champagne (her favourite), flowers and chocolates.
Speaking with the help of her carer, the centenarian, who has outlived much of her friends and family, said: “I’m lucky to have made many happy memories during my life and – even at 108 – I’m still making more.
“Thank you to all the people who organised this and send [sic] me cards.” Dorothy lived independently until the age of 104 and then moved into Bupa Southlands care home in Harrogate in 2015.
This year, staff wanted to make her birthday extra special so they put a call-out on
Facebook asking people to send her a card. They were hoping for 108 cards to mark every year of her life – and were “blown away” by the huge response.
Helene Ballinger, resident experience manager for the care home, said: “It’s sad to think but, as people get older, they typically have fewer friends to celebrate with, which is why we always try and make a big effort for residents’ birthdays.
“Dorothy’s something of a local celebrity now, our letterbox has been overflowing for weeks.”Speaking about the cards, Dorothy’s niece, Judith, said: “It’s the small gestures that can make a big difference. We never dreamt that my aunt would receive so many cards.
“While she struggles to speak nowadays, the smile on her face said it all. It was a wonderful surprise and has helped make her day so special.
“She’s always been happiest when surrounded by others, and the cards have made her feel very loved.”Born in Headingly, Leeds, on the 22 October 1911, Dorothy was one of two children born to Frank and Fanny Wingate and grew up in the city with her younger brother, Norman.As a child, she attended the Leeds Girls Modern School before leaving, aged 14, to pursue a career as an accountant.It was while she was training that she met her husband-to-be, Leonard, before joining him in working for the Racecourse Betting Control Board. The couple got married in Leeds in the early 1940s.In a bid to keep national morale high during the Second World War, horse racing became one of the few sports which wasn’t completely suspended, and the couple moved to
London to support races across the country.After the war, the couple moved to New Malden in Surrey where they held roles on the Race Course Betting Control Board, before they retired to Torbay in Devon in 1963.The pair were married for nearly 40 years, and never had children. Leonard passed away in 1981. Now, Dorothy remains close with her niece, Judith Barrett, who still visits her regularly today.After spending 14 years on her own in Devon – using it as a base to travel both the
UK and internationally – Dorothy moved back up north in 1995, settling in Harrogate to be close to Judith.
To help make her birthday special, staff at the care home threw two parties: one with Judith and her family including her great-great-great niece and nephew, and the other with attendees from nearby schools who sang to Dorothy before helping her open the stacks of cards.
And, as for her secret to living well past 100? Dorothy believes it’s all about the chocolate and champagne.
Discussing the latter, the care home’s Helene Ballinger said: “It’s the only thing we ever see her finish a glass of. Needless to say, we’ve been toasting her birthday – no one said life in a care home had to be boring.”Related... Here's What Being Married For 63 Years Has Taught Me About Love And Life How Hard Can It Be To Buy Gender-Neutral Kids' Cards? (Answer: Very) Appeal For Mourners To Attend Funeral Of War Veteran Who Had No Family