WW2 Land girl receives 300 cards on 100th birthday

Olive's Porritt's family said they were grateful to the community for their efforts

A care home said it was “overwhelmed” after one of its residents received more than 300 cards on her 100th birthday.

Fieldhouse Care home in Eye, Peterborough, celebrated Olive Porritt’s special birthday on Wednesday with her family, members of the care home and her loved ones.

Mrs Porritt is the first centenarian resident at the care home and, after the news of her birthday spread in the community, she received flowers, balloon arches and cakes.

Mrs Porritt also received a birthday card from the King, which she “couldn’t believe” had happened - although she had hoped “he would come in person” to wish her well.

Mrs Porritt received cakes, flowers and balloons on her birthday

During World War Two, Mrs Porritt served in the Women's Land Army - an organisation that recruited women to work in agriculture to replace the male workers called up to serve in the military.

She served as a Land Army girl between 1942-46. Her family believes she could be one of the last ones still alive from Kent, where Mrs Porritt was from and the area in which she served during that time.

Her nephew Grant Tomkins said the family was “grateful” to everyone in the community for making his aunt’s day so special.

“She was very happy, very touched especially with the King’s card. But she said she will be very disappointed if he didn’t turn up to wish her [a happy birthday] as a serving army girl.

“She was stationed at Benezette House during the war. She might be the last Land Army girl from that station.

“We are all here, we have come up from London. Some of her friends are coming too... it’s so special to celebrate her,” Mr Tomkins said.

Mrs Porritt received more than 300 birthday cards from the community

Shamim Bashir, the manager of the care home, said everyone had “been blown away” by the community’s response.

“Olive is our first resident to turn 100. She has no children or siblings... so we thought the community could come together and do something for her. We were overwhelmed - people coming in to do cakes, balloon structures and over 300 cards.

“We asked her favourite colours and she said lilac so all the decorations are in lilac. She has got a lovely lilac cardigan on as well.

“She was very impressed with all the wishes and cards, and we and Olive are grateful to everyone for joining in the celebration.

“We want to give a special shout out to Ashbeach Primary School in Ramsey – [who] sent out personal cards for Oilve.”