Former Bristol Rovers players Tom Stanton and Harold Jarman represented the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association (BRFPA) on Thursday 13th June when they went to visit lifelong Rovers supporter Lilly Hoskins as she celebrated her 102nd birthday.
Their visit was a complete surprise to Lilly, who moved into St Monica’s retirement village in Westbury on Trym earlier this year.
Lilly was expecting to celebrate her birthday with her extended family and was delighted when Tom and Harold walked in with a birthday card and bearing gifts of a signed Rovers shirt and a specially made birthday cake on behalf of the BRFPA.
It has to be said that Lilly already had a Rovers shirt from a few seasons back, and was wearing it when Tom and Harold arrived, but now she also has one of last season’s signed by the whole squad!
The visit came about after Tom saw Lilly’s story on Facebook, posted by care assistant Sandra Lane, and things snowballed from there…
“Lilly was very surprised to see us,” said Tom, “and she didn’t stop smiling the whole time we were there. It was an honour for Harold and I to be able to help her mark a very special birthday and a real pleasure to meet her and members of her family.”
