Britain's Oldest Known Submariner Veteran Receives Hundreds Of Cards On 100th Birthday

More than 600 birthday cards have been sent to Britain's oldest known submariner veteran who has celebrated his 100th birthday in self-isolation.

Harry Melling, who served on board HMS Osiris during World War Two, received hundreds of happy birthday messages on Saturday, as well as a number of gifts.

One of the Royal Navy's youngest sailors even hand-delivered a set of wooden-carved dolphins to his care home in Wigan. 

It follows an appeal for people to help celebrate Mr Melling's centenary while in lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak. 

Due to the measures, Mr Melling was not allowed any visitors. 

However, his great-nephew, Matthew Melling, managed to speak to him through the doorway of the care home.

"Being able to see him then, speak to him and see all his cards, and see all these people that care about him as well... it's overwhelming for me to know that so many people care about my uncle," Matthew told Forces News.

Christine Stafford, the care home manager, said: "I've looked after Harry now for coming up to two years and it's [an] absolute joy.

"He makes us laugh every day, he's a very lovely gentleman, very warm, very caring, cares about everybody else rather than himself."