Many happy returns, Arthur (From Barry And District News)

Many happy returns, Arthur

A BIG-HEARTED Barry man has celebrated a landmark birthday by donating years of savings to charity.

Arthur Kendall, of Brookfield Avenue, turned 90 years of age on Tuesday, and marked the occasion at the British Heart Foundation shop in Holton Road by emptying a whiskey bottle full of coins into the organisation's coffers.

He told the News: "I was given the empty bottle by one of my granddaughters, Mandy Jones. It was about seven or eight years ago and I started slipping my loose change into it.

"I wanted to give it to charity at some point and my 90th birthday seemed the right time."

Although the contents have not been counted, Arthur has written cheques for £200 each, one for the British Heart Foundation and one for Tenovus, the cancer charity.

He added: "My daughter Buffy, Mandy's mum, died of cancer when she was only 47, and my wife Mary died of a heart attack a few years ago, when she was 81. So the work done by both of these charities is close to me, and I wanted to show my support to them."

Mr Kendall was treated to a cup of tea and a chocolate birthday cake by British Heart Foundation's Barry branch manager Sue Mayne, who said: "Receiving donations of this kind is always welcome, and the fact Mr Kendall has chosen to share his birthday with us is very special."

Mr Kendall's granddaughter Mandy Jones is well known to Tenovus already, as she has run three London Marathons to raise money for the organisation.

Mr Kendall took his bottle with him and pledged to start saving again, until his next big birthday.