The positive power of social media was demonstrated at a Seaton care home after a Facebook appeal led to 250 birthday cards being sent to a resident.

Jean Slack, a resident of Netherhayes Care Home, celebrated her 104th birthday on Friday, April 26. Three weeks before the big day, staff posted an appeal on the home’s Facebook page asking people to send in birthday cards for her.

They were hoping for 104 cards – one for each year of Jean’s life – but the response was much bigger. Cards flooded in from individual well-wishers, local schools and youth groups, individual well-wishers and even people on holiday in Seaton. There was even a card sent from Australia.

Midweek Herald: Locally, cards were sent to Jean by Beer Primary School Breakfast Club, 1st Seaton Scouts, Beavers and Cubs, Pink Hippo Nursery, Musbury Moles Eco pre-school and Colyton Caterpillars. Many of the cards were decorated with hand-drawn pictures.

Jean said: “I had a wonderful birthday. I had so many cards, good wishes and phone calls. I even had a special raspberry ripple ice cream.”

The ice cream had been made for Jean by Cortona Gelato Lab after a member of staff there saw the post and recognised Jean’s photo from a visit to the parlour with her grandson.

Jean added: “I’m amazed that I’m 104 and I think living the outdoor life helped. I always loved gardening, and according to one of the cards from an old neighbour my peonies are still flowering.

“I enjoyed painting, as I still try to do, I loved photography, and our family used to go off skiing. 

“Thank you everyone for each card that was sent to me.” 

Midweek Herald: Jean still enjoys painting

Jean was born in Rochdale on April 26 1920. She said she had a happy childhood ‘spending time out of doors blocking streams, and I liked doing boys’ things, like climbing trees'.

She studied in London during the war but was then evacuated to Kent, where she enjoyed exploring the countryside on her treasured bicycle. Jean went on to become a nursery school teacher, and went to work in Edinburgh. Her daughter still lives there, and her son lives in London. She has a ‘wonderful’ family with grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.