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War veteran gets 1,500 cards for 100th birthday

Jonny HumphriesNorth West
News imageIvy Gate Lodge Stan Woolley, 100, wearing a black and green baseball cap with a military logo on the front and a beige polo neck, sits in front of a dining table laden with hundreds of birthday cards of all different colours. Ivy Gate Lodge
Stan Woolley's story went viral after staff at his Southport care home called on the community to help mark his 100th birthday

A World War Two veteran was "overwhelmed" after more than 1,500 cards arrived at his care home after an appeal to the public to mark his 100th birthday.

Stan Woolley, born in Liverpool in 1926, served in the Royal Navy and then Royal Marines during the war.

Amy Nwaneroe, manager at Ivy Gate Lodge in Southport where Stan has lived since November, said he was a "gentleman" and "very respectful".

She said the care home decided to do something special for Stan's milestone birthday this month and shared his story on social media - where it "literally went viral".

After leaving the military, he served as a police officer in the Palestine Police Force before returning to Britain and managing a publishing company.

He also managed a post office.

Amy said: "He's a very intelligent man, he's family-orientated and we've seen that with his admission into Ivy Gate Lodge. He's respectful, such a gentleman."

News imageIvy Gate Lodge Stan Woolley sits on a beige armchair wearing a navy blue zip up jacket and black baseball cap, between a man with grey hair and a blue jacket and a woman with a blonde bob and floral blouse. Balloons, cards and bunting are visible in the backdrop.Ivy Gate Lodge
Stan Woolley with his niece Jackie Ryan and her husband George

After posting the appeal alongside Stan's backstory, Amy said: "It went everywhere.

"We've ended up having cards sent from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, London and America - we're still getting them and we've had some delivered yesterday and obviously it's past the birthday date."

She said at the latest count the total had exceeded 1,500.

Describing the card messages, Amy said: "It's all different.

"Some are from people in the Royal Navy currently that are actively serving, that have sent pictures of all the serving people to wish him happy birthday and how they're looking up to him as their hero.

"It's really sweet messages."

'Still part of the community'

The care home also threw a big birthday party, attended by around 98 people.

Describing his reaction to the cards, Amy said: "He's just seemed really overwhelmed, but in a really positive way.

"You can see that it's given that kind of reassurance that there's a lot of people out there that care.

"He's still part of the community, the marines and the veteran community, so he seemed really honoured."

She said staff were going to make a memory box to hold some of the cards as well as a special scrap book.

Stan's niece, Jackie Ryan, said: "We are overwhelmed with the amount of support Stan has received from the local community and we couldn't have wished for a better turn out for him.

"We can't thank the home enough for what they have done."

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