A notable birthday celebration was on the cards last week, for Island, resident Rena Morelli, who received her Royal 100th birthday card from Mrs Jane Ball, Deputy Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.

Rena Morelli was born 9th July 1908 in Freshwater. She was married in Totland on Sunday 10th September 1939, a week after the Second World War broke out. As her husband was in the Forces, they wanted to marry before he left to serve his country.

Rena worked in Lloyds Bank for a period before moving to Kent with her husband when the war was over. The couple returned to the Island in 1975 following her husband’s retirement. Mr Morelli sadly passed away in 1980 and Rena has lived independently in Totland ever since.

Rena visits The Gouldings in Freshwater, a Council run resource centre providing respite care and rehabilitation to promote independence, a couple of times a week. She is in good health and on Wednesday 9th July 2008 she received her card from Mrs Jane Ball, Deputy Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.

Cards from the Queen, which replace the traditional telegram, mark people’s 100th, 105th and each birthday thereafter.

The Council’s Lieutenancy Office arranges around 10 cards per year for those celebrating notable birthdays. The tradition of sending congratulatory messages started in 1917 by His Majesty King George V and has continued ever since. Any citizen of Her Majesty’s realms or UK overseas territories is eligible to receive a card from the Queen.
 
The Lieutenancy Office will then make all the relevant arrangements with the Palace to ensure a card is sent out in time for the special day. Alternatively, cards can be applied for online at the Palace website.