Overview

• Organisers reported a final total of 16,266 greetings as of Monday, with mail arriving from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
• Shelley marked his centenary on 23 September at the Southend Royal Naval Association with a guard of honour and a tot of rum.
• Messages from the King and from Downing Street were saved for him to open at the party.
• A photo of envelopes covering the branch dancefloor persuaded him to attend, according to organiser Carol Pendrigh and carer Paul Bennett.
• The former seaman gunner joined the Navy at 17, served on HMS Milne on the Arctic Convoys and on D‑Day, and later held senior roles in the Southend branch.