Marlow OAP gets over 100 birthday cards

Joyce Merrett, who lives in Marlow, turned the big 9-0 on May 4 but due to the current pandemic, she wasn’t able to celebrate her birthday with all her friends and family.

Instead, those who couldn’t see Joyce on her big day, decided to her send the popular OAP a birthday card…which the grand total coming up to 125.

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One of her daughters Carol Frost said: “She was so overwhelmed by it all – she couldn’t believe it.

“Mum is very popular so there is no doubt that she would have got a significant number of cards but to get this many was wonderful.

Joyce enjoying the sunshine in Marlow

Joyce cutting her cake with neighbours

Joyce in her youth

“She couldn’t believe it because when the postman came, all her cards were in one big bundle together!”

Joyce, who is originally from the Cotswolds, moved to Marlow in 2006 from High Wycombe and has lived on her own for last 10 years, following her husband’s passing.

And despite coronavirus stopping Joyce’s loved ones from seeing her, she hopes to see her family and friends in October.

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Carol continued: “I was thrilled for her because of the pandemic and with her living alone, she should have had a family party in the Cotswolds on May 16/17 and my sister and I were disappointed in that.

“So we tried to make something special for her.

“She’s also a member of the Inner Wheel Club and I would like to thank them along with Rotary, Four Ends Flower and Booker Flower Club who helped achieve this.

“And with all the birthday cards she received, she’s like our own Captain Tom!”

Carol also revealed that as her neighbours make PPE, so she and sister were given masks so that they could go to Joyce’s house and help put up the birthday cards.