Local charity York Neighbours help resident celebrate 100th birthday in style

A local resident has had a centenary birthday to remember thanks to a musical show of community spirit and neighbourliness.

To help celebrate her big day Caroline Cumberland last week asked local charity York Neighbours, who help to support her, if they had any volunteers with a trumpet to play her “Happy Birthday” and, if possible, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond.

As they do with all of the one-off job requests that they receive, the charity got to work and put out a call to its volunteers.

A volunteer named David answered the call and - as so often happens when people come together to do good things - one thing led to another.

David brought with him 11 musicians and singers to play the songs requested by Caroline who watched from her front garden.

The ensemble were also joined by local celebrity musician Steve Cassidy, who played Peter Gabriel’s “That’ll Do”, from the 1995 film classic “Babe”, and joined in with their rendition of Happy Birthday.

Caroline’s son, along with many friends and neighbours, joined in with the celebration, as she danced and sang her way through the songs.

Caroline called York Neighbours the following day and said: “Thank you so much for the birthday treat I got with the playing of the music.  I shall never forget it, I really shan’t.  It was so kind of you. Thank you to everybody.”

David said: “It is always a pleasure helping with the task requests that York Neighbours receive and this one in particular will live long in the memory.  It was an honour to be able to play a part in Caroline’s special day.”