Doreen Callister’s appeal to get 100 birthday cards sent to her mother for her 100th birthday has been successful.

The story in last week’s Examiner generated much activity on social media and it was shared by the Isle of Man Post Office’s Facebook page.

They joined in the appeal to get people to send cards to Mabel at Springfield Grange nursing home in Douglas ahead of Mabel Statham’s milestone birthday on Friday.

All this saw the target surpassed with Mabel receiving 178 in total, a count which may still rise.

Mabel was very surprised by the appeal and Doreen said that ’she looked just like the Queen, sitting there and enjoying all the attention.’

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Because of the emergency circuit-breaker lockdown restrictions, family were unable to enter the home to visit Mabel for her birthday.

So Doreen thought she would organise the card appeal to make the day special.

Doreen was still able to drop off a birthday cake at the home and staff set up decorations with the cards arranged in her room.

Mabel retired to the island in 1994 with her husband Dennis, who died in 1999.

She also has three sons - Ernest, Derrick and Edward - along with 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

During the 1940s she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (Women’s branch of the British Army), and her wartime memories include singing Vera Lynn songs.

Raising four children on her own during this time, Doreen said she ’always had a smile, and always managed to pull through’.

Later in the 40s, she worked in a woollen mill and also fostered children.

On the island, which she and Dennis loved, they lived in Onchan - with Mabel volunteering in the Cancer Research charity shop.

Doreen said she would like to say a ’big thank you’ to everyone who sent cards in, and express her gratitude to the staff at Springfield Grange home, adding that: ’They pulled out all the stops, they were her family for the day’.

The story of Mabel’s birthday even got a mention on BBC North West Tonight.

Doreen joked that ’everyone has 15 minutes of fame in their life time, so on that reckoning Mabel still has 14 minutes and 58 seconds left.’