HC-One’s Ebor Court Care Home in Nether Poppleton, York, North Yorkshire, was filled with joy and celebration after resident Gordon Walsh, who will turn 100 on Sunday, July 27, was honoured with a heartfelt birthday surprise at Poppleton Primary School, organised by his intergenerational pen pal, Jude, and the school’s children.
In a touching celebration, Ebor Court colleagues accompanied Gordon to Poppleton Primary School, where the school had invited them as a special surprise.
Jude presented Gordon with a spectacular birthday cake, and the children of Poppleton Primary School gathered to serenade him with a lively rendition of “Happy Birthday”.
The surprise left Gordon beaming, as he was showered with an abundance of birthday cards from his young friends.
Gordon Walsh, the centenarian-to-be, shared his delight:
“Such a lovely surprise to have the children sing. I’ve never had so many birthday cards!”
The event highlighted the special bond formed through Ebor Court’s intergenerational pen pal programme, which connects residents with local schoolchildren to share stories, wisdom, and friendship across generations.
Denise Cooper, Lifestyle Manager at Ebor Court, said:
“It was wonderful to see Jude surprise Gordon. Intergenerational pen pals are a fantastic way to share wisdom across the generations – it was so heartwarming to watch.”