Joan, a resident in a Much Wenlock care home was overjoyed at the response when the care home put the call out to get enough cards to match her 101 years. Over 300 cards have come in, many handmade and some from her beloved Everton FC.
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00:00 (people chattering)
00:03 - Well, I've seen a few birthday cards in me time,
00:05 but this is, this is crazy.
00:07 So this is Joan.
00:09 Hello, Joan.
00:10 And I'm taking it you're the birthday girl.
00:13 Is that right?
00:13 - That's right.
00:14 - Cool.
00:15 And I'm 101 years old.
00:17 I'm not a psychic, the balloons say it on the wall.
00:19 And you, wheat chief, home in which way?
00:22 Like you put a call out, Wheatland, sorry, yeah.
00:25 You put a call out.
00:26 - I'm not home, I'm out.
00:28 - You put a call out, didn't you?
00:29 To say, can we get 101 cards?
00:31 - 101 cards, yes we did, yeah.
00:32 - And how many have you ended up with?
00:34 - 311.
00:35 - 311.
00:36 What do you think about that then, Joan?
00:38 - Very good.
00:39 - Yeah?
00:40 You've made a big impression on people then, haven't you?
00:43 - I know I have.
00:43 (laughing)
00:46 - And that accent, that doesn't sound like a black country
00:49 with a Swapshire accent.
00:50 Where are you from?
00:51 - I'm from Gousa.
00:52 - You're from Gousa.
00:52 Well, I guess the clue really, I mean,
00:55 if we come down here,
00:56 we've got Everton birthday card there, specially made.
00:58 We've got a military wives choir.
01:00 That's because she were in the Wrens, is that right?
01:02 - Yeah.
01:03 - And we've got your niece with you, is that right there?
01:05 Cool.
01:06 Niece, I might get you to come,
01:07 you want to crouch down here next to Joan
01:09 and then I can snuggle in by you.
01:10 - Where's Barb?
01:11 - She's the other side.
01:13 - We'll help you up, we'll help you up.
01:14 - She's the other side.
01:15 - We'll get you.
01:17 - So Joan, 101 years old,
01:19 what have you learned in 101 years?
01:21 - Oh, I hate to tell you.
01:23 (laughing)
01:25 - Is there anything we can print
01:28 and then you can tell me.
01:29 It's a lot of changes in 101 years, isn't there?
01:33 Yeah?
01:34 - I can't think.
01:35 - Yeah.
01:36 So you grew up as a young girl in Liverpool.
01:39 - I was born in Liverpool.
01:41 - Yeah.
01:42 - And I died.
01:43 - Yeah.
01:43 And you were Everton,
01:45 you were a season ticket holder, I believe,
01:47 is that right?
01:48 - I was.
01:48 - Well, there couldn't have been
01:49 many lady season ticket holders back then, I presume.
01:53 Yeah?
01:54 - Well, I don't know, I didn't count them, but.
01:56 (laughing)
01:58 There was a lot.
02:01 - Yeah.
02:02 - But I don't think it was anything like it is now.
02:05 - And what do you--
02:06 - I don't know, I don't get to the match these days.
02:10 - Yeah, well, you're 101,
02:11 I think we can let you off,
02:13 or not climbing them steps to the terraces.
02:16 What do you, you still watch the Mondertelly and stuff
02:18 and keep track of how they're doing?
02:19 - I watch Everton, I don't watch Liverpool.
02:21 - Yeah.
02:22 What do you think of how Everton are doing?
02:25 - Not as good as I would like.
02:27 - Yeah.
02:28 - You can't have everything.
02:29 - Yeah.
02:30 Who got you into your football then?
02:31 Was it your mom, your dad?
02:34 - Oh, my dad liked the football, but he didn't go.
02:38 - Yeah.
02:38 - 'Cause he was getting older.
02:40 - Yeah.
02:40 - My dad, he was glad I was interested.
02:44 - Yeah, yeah.
02:46 And was your family kind of divided?
02:48 Was there some Liverpool, some Everton?
02:50 - Yeah.
02:51 - Howard was Liverpool.
02:52 - My dad, my dad was Liverpool.
02:54 - Yeah.
02:55 - I was Everton.
02:56 - Yeah.
02:57 - My other nephew was Liverpool.
03:00 - Yeah, yeah.
03:01 Well, what do you think of all these cards then?
03:04 I mean, a lot of them have been handmade, haven't they?
03:06 - I wouldn't know them.
03:08 - Yeah, a lot of, our friends from the home here
03:10 were saying a lot of them have been made by children
03:13 and, you know, crafted the cards.
03:15 - Yeah, yeah.
03:16 - My dad did know, much when primary school come up
03:18 to see you and delivered 102 cards from all the children.
03:21 - No way.
03:22 - I bought you an Everton shirt, didn't I?
03:24 - Yes.
03:25 - Did they?
03:26 - Yeah.
03:27 - Oh, fantastic.
03:28 They actually came up to visit you, did they?
03:28 The littlens?
03:29 - Yeah.
03:30 - Oh, they're lovely, the littlens.
03:31 - Did you enjoy that?
03:32 - Oh, they're lovely, the littlens.
03:34 - Yeah.
03:35 What were they?
03:36 Did you get a song out of them?
03:36 Did they sing you a happy birthday song?
03:39 - I don't remember that, but there was a lot of them here.
03:42 - Yeah, yeah.
03:43 I bet they wore you out, didn't they?
03:45 I bet you had a good night's sleep that night.
03:47 - Oh, they can wear me out any time.
03:48 (laughing)
03:50 - And so your niece, and you, staff member here at the home,
03:54 what do you think of her then?
03:56 She's a bit of a character, isn't she?
03:59 - You?
04:00 - You, yeah, you.
04:01 - You're the first one up dancing, aren't you?
04:05 - Is she?
04:05 - First one who wants a sherry.
04:07 - Our shopper dancer.
04:07 - Yeah, our human dancer.
04:09 - And she knows the words to all the songs.
04:11 - Yeah.
04:11 - And still does the crosswords.
04:13 - Yeah?
04:14 - Crossword.
04:15 - Yeah?
04:16 - Yeah, and she's marvellous.
04:17 Her spelling's fantastic.
04:18 - Wow, yeah, yeah.
04:19 - Can't tell you what she had for breakfast,
04:20 but she knows the clues.
04:21 Yeah, fantastic.
04:22 So you used to like to have a boogie, did ya?
04:24 She used to like to have a dance.
04:26 - I never had any, no.
04:27 - Yeah, no.
04:28 - You were the one on the piano in our parties in Liverpool,
04:32 weren't you?
04:33 - Yeah.
04:34 - Played the piano?
04:35 - Yeah.
04:35 - Yeah, oh wow, yeah.
04:36 - Fantastic.
04:37 - Well, that's cool.
04:38 - Nipple.
04:39 - Oh, I got on the Liverpool team for nipple.
04:42 - Well, you were the county, actually.
04:44 - Yeah.
04:45 - You were the county.
04:46 - Oh wow, so you've got a, there's a lot of living
04:48 you've done in them 101 years.
04:49 - I'm a sporty character.
04:51 - Oh, you know, yeah, we've covered that.
04:52 And a good sport today.
04:54 I've had you bent this way and that for photos.
04:56 (laughing)
04:57 And you've done as you were told.
04:58 - Well, I keep, I'm fortunate I've got good health.
05:02 - Yeah, yeah.
05:03 - I've never smoked in my life.
05:05 - Yeah.
05:06 Well, perhaps this is part of the key then
05:08 to getting to 101, maybe.
05:10 And I understand there's even been a video message sent.
05:12 Is that right?
05:13 - From Edmonton Football Club, yeah.
05:14 - Yeah, and was it one of the old players, was it?
05:17 - I don't know that.
05:18 - Yeah, we might have a little look at that.
05:19 - Graham Stewart.
05:20 - Yeah, Graham Stewart, one of the old boys, yeah.
05:22 - Where are all these things?
05:24 (laughing)
05:25 Behind you.
05:26 - I'm sure, yeah, I'm sure,
05:27 I'm sure they'll flash them up to you again a bit later.
05:29 Just to, just to remind you there.
05:31 Well, thank you for letting us, the Shropshire Star,
05:33 share your birth week.
05:36 I like to drag mine out for a week, your birth week.
05:38 - Oh, we're having a birthday month
05:39 'cause we've got a talent show at the end of the month
05:41 for your birthday, haven't we?
05:42 - Fantastic.
05:43 - Oh, shall I not?
05:44 - But you might be dancing for that then.
05:45 Or maybe do some, maybe do some keepy-uppies.
05:48 (laughing)
05:48 - Certainly.
05:50 - Thank you, well, lovely to--
05:51 - Anyway, thank you very much.
05:52 - Lovely to meet you.
05:53 - Pleasure to meet you.
05:55 - Thank you, chicken.
05:56 - Up the blues.
05:57 - Up the blues!
05:58 Come on, everyone, up the blues!
06:00 - Up the blues!
06:01 (whistling)
06:02 - Right, when you're ready.
06:03 - Hello, Joan, it's Graham Stewart here
06:04 from Everton Football Club.
06:06 I just wanted to send you a message.
06:07 You're all of us connected with Everton
06:10 to send you our very best wishes
06:12 and congratulations for your 101st birthday.
06:14 What an incredible milestone to get to 101.
06:18 I bet 100 was good, but 101,
06:20 can you let me know what you're eating and drinking, Joan?
06:24 I'd love to get there as well.
06:25 I know you're a huge Evertonian
06:27 and have been for so many years,
06:28 and thank you so much for all the support
06:30 that you've shown us over the years
06:31 and continue to support us as well.
06:33 And I'm sure you've got some incredible memories
06:36 from up and down the years,
06:38 and I'm so happy to tell you that we're nice and safe now
06:41 in the Premier League, ready for next season,
06:43 and let's hope we kick on from there
06:45 in our final season at Goodison Park.
06:47 Anyway, Joan, I hope you have a fantastic day celebrated.
06:51 Take care.
06:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]