New Forest woman, 101, gets Ohio birthday card in mayoral mix-up

Image source, Hartwood House, Cinnamon Care Collection

• Published4 November 2026

An unexpected card from a mayor in America was among hundreds of wishes sent to a care home resident for her 101st birthday.

Joan Hillman, resident of Hartwood House in the New Forest, said she felt "very lucky" to have received the cards, which were collected by the care home.

Among the cards was a transatlantic greeting from the mayor of Lyndhurst in Ohio after the care home accidentally contacted him instead of the mayor of Lyndhurst in Hampshire.