A 100-year-old man from Wythenshawe was one of the last people to receive a birthday card from HM Queen Elizabeth II before she died.
Reaching the grand-old age of 100 is not a milestone that many people reach in their lifetimes.
Because this is such a momentous occasion, it has been a long-established Royal tradition that the reigning monarch sends the centenarian a birthday message to congratulate them and wish them well on their special day.
The tradition dates back to 1917, with King George V the first sent out a congratulatory message, and most monarch’s – including Queen Elizabeth II – following suit.
When the Post Office introduced the ‘Special Greetings Telegram’ in the 1940s, Queen Elizabeth II agreed that birthday telegrams should be sent out in this format to add to the sense of occasion, and then, in 1999, Buckingham Palace decided to make them greetings card-style telegrams instead – which feature a personalised message and offer a more warm and personal greeting to the recipient.
Queen Elizabeth II sent thousands of celebration telegrams during her 70-year reign, and it’s likely the tradition will continue under King Charles III.
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100-year old man receives one of the last telegrams in the world from the Queen https://t.co/o7r1u3KawC
Neville Tonkin was one of those people to receive a greeting card from Her Majesty.
The Wythenshawe man reached the 100-year milestone on Monday 12 September, which automatically-qualified him to receive a card from the late Queen.
After Queen Elizabeth II passed away on 8 September, Neville’s family were not sure if the card was going to be from the Queen or King Charles III, but after they opened it, they realised it had been signed by the monarch before she passed.
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Speaking to ITV Granada about his reaction when his family presented him with the birthday special message, Neville said it’s “the best card [he’s] ever had.”
He explained: “They said ‘you’ve got a picture of the Queen’. I said what for? They said, ‘you’re a hundred years old!’ Who’s a hundred these days? I feel a bit special about it, I feel as though I’m the leader of the pack. I don’t feel like an old man, I want to get out and play cricket or football.
“I thought so much of the Queen – it’s the best card I’ve ever had.”
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
HM Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 on 8 September 2022.
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During her reign, Elizabeth II served as Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth – undertaking an important symbolic and unifying role as a head of state, spanning numerous geographical regions, cultures, and religions.
She was not just the longest-reigning British monarch in history, but she was also the first-ever monarch to reign in the UK for 70 years.
She was beloved by many for her sense of duty and devotion to her role.
‘Powerful’ firearms found in Stockport suburb as police search for answers
Danny Jones
Concerning news coming out of Stockport after two “incredibly powerful and dangerous” firearms were found in the Brinnington area of the town.
The weapons have been secured by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), but the nature of their discovery has drummed up plenty of questions among local authorities.
Stumbled upon this past Friday, 12 June, officers in Stockport found both a handgun and, even more shockingly, a submachine gun in simple rubbish bags.
The high calibre and fire rate of the respective weapons, specifically, have understandably added to the level of worry among police and residents alike.
As per an official GMP release, an MP5 model SMG and a ‘Grand Power’ handgun were uncovered, although the exact location of the ordnance has not yet been disclosed.
Troubling stuff, to say the least.
However, at present, they believe the attempt to conceal and/or dispose of the weapons is likely a reaction to their ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal activity and remove dangerous weapons from the streets across the region.
Stopfordian sectors of the city-region are among many across the surrounding 10 boroughs, with Brinnington in particular seeing a more ramped-up level of searches.
Detective Inspector Mark Graham, leader of the SK Challenger Team, said: “We have done some fantastic work in recovering firearms in Greater Manchester – between April 2024 and April 2026 – GMP took 150 firearms off our streets.”
#Brinnington neighbourhood intensification operation sees multiple arrests and seizures
In the 2 weeks since our work began, we have secured 15 arrests for offences including possession with intent to supply, failing to appear at court, dangerous driving, & weapons offences. pic.twitter.com/zJS9QIYJTD
Nevertheless, he goes on to say that “Friday’s discovery has prevented potentially serious harm to those who work and live in the area”, adding in the full statement: “These types of weapons have no place on our streets and are incredibly powerful and dangerous.
“Our investigation is progressing, and we are following numerous lines of enquiry in relation to who these belong to and how they ended up where they did.”
As always, they are urging anyone with information about illegal firearms or suspicious activity in and around the Stockport region to contact police ASAP, either over the usual 101 number or by dialling 999 immediately in emergency situations.
If you would rather get in touch online, you can report potentially useful info via the live chat function on the GMP website, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
What is going to be included in the UK’s under-16s social media ban?
Emily Sergeant
In case you missed the landmark announcement yesterday, it has been confirmed that social media is to be banned for under-16s in the UK.
That’s right – in what is said to be a bid to ‘give kids their childhood back’ and set ‘a new normal’ for future generations by kickstarting a cultural shift, the Government has announced that social media platforms will be banned from offering their services to under-16s – meaning less time for scrolling and more time for play.
The Government says it plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia, which was introduced back in 2024.
But what exactly does that mean? And what social media platforms are set to be included within the upcoming ban and which ones aren’t?
We are giving children their childhoods back.
Social media platforms will be blocked from offering services to under 16s.
We’re setting a new normal for future generations and empowering parents who just want to do their best for their kids. pic.twitter.com/ez0fLZiwcG
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) June 15, 2026
Well, according to the Government and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, the UK’s ban would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction, allow users to post their own material, alongside algorithms.
The ban will, therefore, include popular social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
But crucially, at this time, it is not intended for messaging services like WhatsApp to be included.
The Government says it is also planning to go even further than any other country, as on top of a blanket ban on social media, world-leading blocks on harmful functions – such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children – will also be blocked for under-16s, and will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites.
The Government has announced a social media ban for under 16s / Credit: Julian Christ (via Unsplash)
Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent what ministers are calling a ‘cliff-edge’ at 16.
And to go even further, the Government says it will be ‘looking in more detail’ at the potential to introduce overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for those under 18 – with more information to be provided on this next month.
“This is a decisive first step which marks a clear choice to put children’s wellbeing first and give them a healthy life online,” the Government said in a statement. “We stand ready to take further measures in the future.”
Speaking on the upcoming ban and further restrictions, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever.
“I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.
“That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.
“This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th September 2022 
