Woman, 101, gets Ohio birthday card in mayoral mix-up

An unexpected card from a mayor in America was among hundreds of wishes sent to a care home resident for her 101st birthday.

Joan Hillman, resident of Hartwood House in the New Forest, said she felt "very lucky" to have received the cards, which were collected by the care home.

Among the cards was a transatlantic greeting from the mayor of Lyndhurst in Ohio after the care home accidentally contacted him instead of the mayor of Lyndhurst in Hampshire.

Charlotte Dean of the care home said the initiative "brought together generations, organisations and communities from both sides of the Atlantic, all united by the desire to make one remarkable lady feel loved and celebrated".

The idea to collect the cards came about when staff realised, having already received her milestone birthday card from the King at the age of 100, Hillman would not receive another royal card until her 105th birthday.

The care home said the response was "overwhelming", with schools, playgroups, Scouts and Girlguiding groups, carers' organisations, community centre groups, local businesses, care homes, and individuals sending birthday wishes.

The card from the mayor of Ohio, Patrick A.Ward, read: "It is my honor to extend our community's best wishes on your upcoming 101st Birthday!

"What an amazing milestone!

"The changes that you have seen, technological, societal, economical, have been tremendous and perhaps, at times, a little scary to live through. Yet here you are.

"Congratulations!"

Hillman, who grew up in London and has been at the care home for two years, said: "It means so much that so many people have thought about me on my birthday.

"I've never experienced anything like this and I feel very lucky."

Dean said: "For Joan, the experience was incredibly moving.

The care home said the cards showed the "extraordinary power of community spirit".