Arrowe Park Hospital staff surprise WWII veteran with 107th birthday celebration
A patient at Arrowe Park Hospital received a surprise birthday celebration after staff on Ward 27 came together to mark his remarkable 107th birthday.
Charles Martin, from Wirral, celebrated the milestone on 23rd July, surrounded by staff, family and fellow patients, with balloons, birthday decorations and a cake organised by the ward team.
Charles, who was born on 23rd July 1919 and is believed to be one of the oldest people in the region, said he was overwhelmed by the kindness shown by staff.
He said: “It was wonderful that the hard-working staff on the ward came together to celebrate my birthday. I was shocked to see the fuss they made. It was so nice. They all work so hard and it was very kind of them.
Charles has lived an extraordinary life spanning more than a century.
During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Air Force, where he learned to play baseball alongside his American counterparts. After the war, he became Dairy Manager at Swan Hill Dairy, a historic Wirral business that supplied milk to approximately 40,000 households across the peninsula.
A lifelong sportsman, Charles played football at both Anfield and Goodison Park during his younger years and continued playing golf at Heswall Golf Club until he reached the age of 100.
Even at 107, Charles still enjoys doing his own shopping with support from his carers and keeps his mind active every day by completing crosswords and maths puzzles.
When asked the secret to his long life, Charles simply said: “Sixty years of happy marriage.”
As is tradition for people reaching such a milestone, Charles also received a congratulatory birthday card from Their Majesties The King and Queen.
Charles' son, Paul Martin, thanked the Ward 27 team for making the occasion so special.
He said: “We are very appreciative of the efforts of the staff to celebrate Dad’s birthday. It just shows the value of the NHS, where the staff go the extra mile to provide not just brilliant clinical care but celebrations like this.”
Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “It was a privilege to celebrate Charles' incredible 107th birthday with him and his family.
“Charles has lived an extraordinary life and it was wonderful to see our Ward 27 team come together to make his birthday so memorable. Moments like these reflect the compassion, kindness and person-centred care our staff provide every day.
“We are incredibly proud of our colleagues for going the extra mile to make Charles feel so special, and on behalf of everyone at the Trust, I would like to wish him a very happy 107th birthday.”