A SWINDONIAN is hoping to mark a major milestone in his mum's life by having 100 birthday cards sent to her.

Garry Drewitt wants to make Dorothy's day by arranging dozens of goodwill messages to be dropped on her doorstep in just over two weeks' time - 100 to be exact, one card for every year of her life.

The 60-year-old thought of the idea three weeks ago and has been encouraging everyone he knows to send their best wishes to the pensioner on the day of her centenary.

He said: "I thought it would be a nice thing to do. Many of the people I know live abroad so I wanted to give them plenty of time to send things over.

"I've had a really positive response so far, it's grown and grown, and now I want to get the Adver involved."

Garry has placed an announcement in the paper wishing her many happy returns for the big day, December 13, and has asked for a card from King Charles III. 

He wants the influx of envelopes to be a surprise for his much-loved mum, so if you see this - don't tell her!

Garry added: "She was very active in her 90s, before the pandemic, always out walking from Old Town to the town centre and most of the way up the hill before catching a bus, and she liked ballroom dancing.

"She left school at 14 and worked at the Railway and at Aldermaston during the war. She was on Firewatch, making sure the lights were out around Swindon.

"After she had me, she became a homemaker and volunteered at Prospect Hospice and Princess Margaret Hospital.

"I have lots of happy memories with her.

"She had me quite late in life, and likes to point out to people that her parents were once told she should be christened quickly because she would not live long - and now she's about to turn 100.

"She is very frail now and has dementia, so she gets a bit confused about dates, but she knows me and my partner. It would mean the world to her to receive 100 cards or more on her special day."

Please send your birthday cards and kind messages to 

Dorothy Drewitt 

The Hermitage

Charlotte Mews 

Swindon

SN3 4NZ