Penwortham woman receives nearly 400 cards to mark 100th birthday

Jenny Hesketh, who now lives at Highcliffe Rest Home in Preston Road, Whittle-le-Woods, received nearly 400 birthday cards from the community last Friday.

Care home manager Christine Wilkes and her staff appealed for people to send Jenny cards to help make the milestone memorable, as the centenarian could not invite loved ones to visit her for a celebration due to lockdown.

People sent them from as far as New Zealand after Christine shared the appeal in a Whittle-le-Woods Facebook group on Thursday, May 28.

Christine said: "I was completely overwhelmed with the response from my request on social media. We started opening cards at 8-30am and Jenny was still opening them at 4-30pm.

"Jenny particularly loved the handmade ones from children across the country.

"When I asked her what she would like to say to everyone that had sent her a card, she responded, “I haven’t got a word big enough”.

"They came from all over the UK and Ireland, and Jenny also received e-cards from New Zealand. Some are still filtering through days later.

"I cannot express how thankful she is to the public for their kindness. A local lady Christine Russell who has a cake-baking business made Jenny a lovely cake. Everyone has been so generous, it’s unbelievable. She received so many flowers, we have run out of vases."

Jenny also marked the occasion with a tea party, joined by Penwortham Mayor Geoff Crewe, and received chocolates and gifts.