A woman who sadly had her 100th birthday party plans put on hold said it was a day she would “never forget” after she was surprised with more than 600 cards.
Jean Cricthon – from Wakefield in Yorkshire – was left in tears after carers brought bags full of birthday cards, flowers and chocolates from senders all over the world for her 100th birthday after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic meant she couldn’t celebrate as originally planned.
She had originally planned to invite family and friends around for a big party.
But luckily, her carers – who visit Jean four times a week at her home where she still lives alone – decided to post a card appeal on social media to mark the special day.
Just a day after posting the appeal online, the carers received their first card and they didn’t stop coming for two weeks, to the point they lost count after 600. Children from local primary schools sent her hand drawn letters, while a chef sent her her favourite meal – roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and trifle for dessert.
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Carers described the heartwarming moment surprising Jean – who marked her 100th birthday on 12th December – which saw her welling up as she opened and read every single wish she received.
Speaking on the surprise, Jean said: “I can’t believe there are so many kind people,
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It’s a day to remember and a day I will never forget and I wish I could say thank you to every single person. I have to thank Sarah and the carers who have put this together for me [and] I would like to thank all the children who went through the trouble of making beautiful cards.
“It will take me a long time to forget this, it’s been a very happy day for me and one I shall never forget.”
Jean Cricthon / Complete Care West Yorkshire
The kind gesture was organised by carers from Complete Care West Yorkshire, who posted the appeal on Facebook on 1st December asking for people to send in cards and it quickly snowballed into something “absolutely amazing”.
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They said Jean was the “loveliest woman” who deserved “this, and more”.
Jodie Bedford – Team Leader at Complete Care West Yorkshire – said they were overwhelmed by how many cards and flowers were sent in each day, adding: “We had people being so lovely from all over the world sending in cards, gifts, and well wishes – it was really overwhelming, but it’s nothing less than what Jean deserved in the incredible life she lived,
“She is such a strong willed, funny, and just lovely woman and she deserves this and more.
“She had something planned with her family, but obviously with COVID they had to be cancelled, and we thought she’d been through so much in her life it would be wrong not to be celebrated.
“We were getting cards and flowers every day – it was incredible.
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“She just had a room full of biscuits, chocolates, a restaurant sent her favourite meal which roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and trifle dessert.
“It was just a lovely day.”
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The 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In yet more huge sporting news for Greater Manchester, the 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to 0161 later this year.
We’ve had plenty of big peaks of late, but things seem to just keep going up and up.
Set to host the global event for the first time in our history, Manchester will welcome the World Climbing Series (WCS), which is set to include both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines ahead of the next Summer Games in 2028.
2027 will mark the 38th edition of the series, which will also be one of only a handful to be held in the North – it’s just down to our city to make it the best.
Officially announced on Friday, 16 January, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) confirmed the return to the UK.
Founded back in 1989, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is coming up on four decades since the competition first began – Leeds being chosen as the inaugural hosts – the event has come a long way since then.
The IFSC’s rebranding of the annual bouldering, lead and speed trials to the modern WSC, which began last year, was initially revealed back in 2023.
Welcoming continental talent right down to the youth level, the upcoming 2026 World Climbing Series is taking place in the summer and will be hosted by the city of Innsbruck in Austria.
As for the WSC’s Manchester debut, which is being organised in collaboration with the City Council, Manchester Accommodation BID, MCR Active and the National Lottery via UK Sport investment.
It’s not the only big sporting celebration that the Council will be supporting in 2027.
Paul Ratcliffe, CEO of the British Mountaineering Council, said in an official statement: “It’s exciting to be able to confirm that a World Series climbing event will return to the UK in 2027 as part of the BMC’s major event programme.
“Hosting a competition of this scale in Manchester is a strong statement about the UK’s place on the international climbing stage and a great opportunity for our athletes, fans, the climbing community and the wider public to experience the sport at the very highest level.
“Our ‘Route to Adventure’ strategy sets out how we will build on moments like this to support people into climbing and help them progress, whatever their starting point. Using major events to inspire participation, strengthen pathways and reinforce our commitment to inclusion is central to our long-term approach.”
Scheduled to take place in June, you can find out more information about the 2027 World Climbing Series in Manchester by signing up for the official event mailing list HERE.
Inside Greater Manchester’s most EXPENSIVE house on the market with an indoor pool and supercar garage
Emily Sergeant
A new house has recently come up for sale, and it just so happens to be the most expensive house currently on the market in Greater Manchester.
So naturally, we thought we’d let you have a little look inside.
Now, before we all get carried away, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us don’t have the money to buy this house just sitting in our bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This is a house that’s quite literally so exclusive, the estate agents haven’t even listed where abouts it is on Rightmove.
All we know is that it’s a house in Alderley Edge – which is by far and away one of the most affluent areas in Cheshire, bordering Greater Manchester – which is currently listed for sale at an eye-watering £10.95 million, only £50,000 shy of £11 million.
Boasting nearly 13,000 sq ft of internal space, all designed bespoke by Hill House Interiors, this six-bedroom detached super luxe villa is set amongst five acres of expertly manicured private gardens that hold an orchard, pond, paddocks, stable, and even a 4G sports pitch.
Some of the stand-out features inside have to be the substantial kitchen, dining, and living room with balcony, a separate chef’s kitchen, ‘his and hers’ dressing rooms, a three-storey glazed entrance hall with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the fact that five of the bedrooms have deluxe ensuites.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also the small matter of a cinema room, a garden room, a full ‘leisure’ suite with a stunning indoor pool, and even a luxury eight-car garage with its own bar.
This is the most expensive house currently on the market in Greater Manchester / Credit: Jackson-Stops
And to top it off, there’s a one-bedroom detached gate house on the land and planning permission exists for an additional outbuilding.
Of course, with a house this swanky, the property is set behind a secure gated entrance down a large driveway – with a sophisticated security system installed, including zoned alarm system and monitored CCTV.
This property is currently on the market with the Alderley Edge branch of national estate agents Jackson-Stops for, as mentioned, a Guide Price of a whopping £10,950,000, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Emily Sergeant -
18th December 2020 
