WINIFRED Cleaver’s family pay her a visit on her 100th birthday — with the help of a cherry picker. Her nephew Bob Beauchamp, his daughter Kate and others rented the vehicle so they could reach Winifred’s flat while following lockdown rules. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates They delivered […]
WINIFRED Cleaver’s family pay her a visit on her 100th birthday — with the help of a cherry picker.
Her nephew Bob Beauchamp, his daughter Kate and others rented the vehicle so they could reach Winifred’s flat while following lockdown rules.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
They delivered a card and balloons while suspended in the sky outside her building in Bristol as about 100 onlookers cheered from below.
The family had originally planned to celebrate Ms Cleaver’s big day at a local tourist attraction, but the outbreak of coronavirus left them unsure what to do.
A friend had jokingly suggested to Kate, 45, that they hired a cherry picker — which the family decided was a perfect idea.
Bob, 69, was first at Winifred’s window and the family then took it in turns to hitch a lift and pass on their congratulations from a safe distance.
The local fire service also attended and used its own cherry picker to pass on their best wishes to the centenarian, who is known as Win.
Bob said: “Win is an incredible person.
“While being hard of hearing and having poor eyesight, she is mentally as agile as ever and fully aware of what is happening in the world.
“The celebrations continued in the afternoon. It was lovely that the community came together.
“There were something like 100 of the local residents on the lawn outside to sing Happy Birthday, wave flags and listen to recorded World War Two music.”
Kate added: “We really wanted to see Win for her birthday and being on the third floor, it had seemed impossible – until a friend gave me the idea for the cherry picker!
“Except for a hospital visit, Win has not left her flat since she spent Christmas with us.
“The youngest family member who came to see her was her great-great-nice, aged two. The family spans two to 100!”
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