RAF veteran ' truly humbled' after more than 1,000 cards arrive to mark his 100th birthday
A Royal Air Force veteran who received more than 1,000 cards from around the world to mark his 100th birthday has expressed his gratitude.
Richard 'Dick' Skepper, who joined the RAF at the age of 18 when the Second World War broke out, received more than 1,000 birthday cards, many of them hand-made by children.
The exciting arrival of hundreds of cards was thanks to an appeal made by the RAF Association – a military charity that for more than 90 years has supported the RAF community – to mark his milestone birthday.
Mr Skepper's son David said: "My dad received cards from children as young as six months old to people in their 90s.
"He has received cards from all over the world.
"We've seen postage stamps from Australia, North and Central America, as well as a host of European countries.
"Dad has been overwhelmed by the sheer number of cards he received and was touched by the number of people who had taken the time to send a card and thank him for his service during his time in the RAF."
Mr Skepper, who served in 7 Squadron under Bomber Command at RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire after qualifying as a Flight Mechanic - Engines (FM1), celebrated his birthday at the end of June with a garden party at his home at Kinton Manor Nursing Home in Warwickshire, surrounded by family and friends.
David continued: "Well-wishers have invested so much of their time and my dad has been truly humbled by the care and love shown to him in every single card he has received.
"He has read every message, enjoyed the variety of cards and been amazed by their origins.
"It would be impossible for Dad to thank everyone individually, but you have all helped make his 100th birthday truly wonderful and given him new memories to take forward into his 101st year."
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