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103-year-old 'amazed' at over 2,000 birthday cards

BBC/Louise Hobson A head and shoulders shot of Sylvia Dalton who is sitting in front of a red curtain and wearing a dress with a string of pearls.BBC/Louise Hobson
Sylvia Dalton was a teacher in Stockton-on-Tees and eventually became the headteacher of an infant school

A great-grandmother has received more than 2,000 birthday cards for her 103rd birthday.

Sylvia Dalton's care home in Middlesbrough wanted her to have a "special surprise" to celebrate the milestone on Friday.

They put out a plea for birthday cards on social media in the hope they would receive 103 of them, but more kept coming.

Mrs Dalton said she was "amazed" and "enjoyed reading them very much".

She has three daughters, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, who live as far apart as Scotland and Guernsey.

Mrs Dalton spent most of her working life teaching in Stockton-on-Tees, where she eventually became the headteacher of an infant school.

BBC/Louise Hobson A carpeted room which is covered from floor to ceiling with birthday cards. On one wall the number 103 is hanging.BBC/Louise Hobson
Montpellier Manor Care Home in Middlesbrough had put out an appeal for 103 birthday cards

Kelly Deane, deputy manager at Montpellier Manor Care Home, described Mrs Dalton as a "gorgeous, lovely lady, who lives a very social life" at the home in Stainton, which she moved into in 2023.

"She loves chatting to people," she said.

When asked why they made the plea for birthday cards, Ms Deane said: "It's quite an achievement to get to the age of 100, never mind 103, so we just wanted to do something special for her while she's here with us.

"We are just so amazed at how many we've received, people have been so kind and thoughtful, it's just overwhelming really."

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