FRIENDLY folk on a Bromsgrove estate proved neighbourly spirit is stronger than ever during the coronavirus crisis as they made sure a pensioner’s 88th birthday was one she will never forget.
Avril Ball’s family were concerned the Appletrees Crescent resident, who has been in shielding self-isolation for six weeks, would be unable to mark the special occasion as she would have wanted to.
So they posted messages through letterboxes of each and every nearby resident on the Woodland Grange street asking them to sing Avril ‘Happy Birthday’ – and were astounded by the response.
Avril’s son Matt Ball said: “We told mum to come out to the front garden at 6pm, where she was greeted by a round of applause followed by a resounding rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.
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“Ten minutes before we had been alone in my mum’s front garden wondering what support we would get.
“We didn’t have to worry – every house we had mail shot came out with their families and even passing dog walkers stopped to join in.
“Around 50 residents made mum’s birthday surprise a brilliant success. She hasn’t stopped phoning family and friends, she truly had a birthday to remember.
“The estate she lives on has really pulled together to help each other during these difficult times. There is a group Facebook page and a What’s App group in place to help each other out.
“I know if I had posted this on it, the estate would have come together en masse but due to social distancing, we had to keep it to her immediate neighbours.
“Their response and support was truly overwhelming. She couldn’t live in a better neighbourhood, or have nicer neighbours.”
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Matt admitted the family had been at a loss how to celebrate Avril’s birthday last Wednesday (April 15) until seeing a news article about something similar happening in America.
He added: “We borrowed the idea and with the help of my 11-year-old daughter Jess, dropped a note through the doors of the neighbours near to my mum the night before.
“Normally we would make a fuss of her birthday, however we are trying to protect her as best we can.
“A lot of family and friends have been unable to send cards due to the lockdown and she didn’t receive any post on her birthday but fully understood why.”
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