Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has spoken of the honour she had after meeting with a Royal Navy Veteran, Harold Kirkham, and delight at learning of his selfless efforts to raise money for charity.
Harold served in the Royal Navy during WWII. In addition to seeing the Victory of Europe in May, he was sent to the Pacific on an aircraft carrier to see Japan surrender, resulting in the end of World War Two.
Harold, a father, grandfather, and great grandfather was 100 on the 21 February. On his special day, he was collected by a chauffeur and driven to the Haven Café on Madoc Street. The owners and staff had organised an afternoon celebration for Harold, with a singer, cakes and lots of friends in attendance.
In addition, Harold received birthday greetings from King Charles III and the Queen Consort Camila, as well as former Everton player Ian Snodin who called Harold and wished him a happy birthday.
Afterwards, Harold was taken back to the Abbeyfield Care Home where they had laid on his favourite lunch, lobscouse. Whilst the celebrations continued, the Mayor of Llandudno, the Monkey Man and his wife, along with others were in attendance to truly give Harold a birthday to remember.
Commenting on meeting with Harold at the Haven Cafe, Janet said:
“It was a true honour to meet with Harold, and hear about his incredible life, especially his years in the Royal Navy during the war in Europe, and the Pacific.
“Also, it was wonderful to hear all about his birthday celebrations where the community had come together to help make the most of his special day. He told me that he was very busy with six parties in total!
“To commemorate his birthday, Harold has challenged himself to walk 100 times from the Abbeyfield Care Home, to one of his favourite places, the Haven Café on Madoc Street. So far, he has completed 58 walks and raised over £146. Once completed, a charity will be selected by Harold and his son Neil.
“I want to wish Harold the very best for the completion of his sponsored walk. If you are able to donate, you can by visiting the Haven Café”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi siarad am yr anrhydedd a gafodd ar ôl cyfarfod â Harold Kirkham, cyn-filwr yn y Llynges Frenhinol, a’i phleser o ddysgu am ei ymdrechion anhunanol i godi arian i elusen.
Gwasanaethodd Harold yn y Llynges Frenhinol yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd. Yn ogystal â gweld buddugoliaeth Ewrop ym mis Mai, cafodd ei anfon i'r Môr Tawel ar awyren i weld Japan yn ildio, gan arwain at ddiwedd yr Ail Ryfel Byd.
Roedd Harold, sy’n dad, taid, a hen daid, yn 100 ar 21 Chwefror. Ar ei ddiwrnod arbennig, daeth chauffeur i’w gasglu a'i yrru i Gaffi Haven ar Stryd Madog. Roedd y perchnogion a'r staff wedi trefnu prynhawn o ddathlu i Harold, gyda chanwr, cacennau a llawer o ffrindiau’n bresennol.
Yn ogystal, derbyniodd Harold gyfarchion pen-blwydd gan y Brenin Siarl III a'r Frenhines Gydweddog Camila, yn ogystal â chyfarchion gan gyn-chwaraewr Everton, Ian Snodin a ffoniodd Harold a dymuno pen-blwydd hapus iddo.
Ar ôl hynny, cafodd Harold ei gludo yn ôl i Gartref Gofal Abbeyfield lle roedden nhw wedi trefnu ei hoff ginio iddo, lobsgóws. Parhaodd y dathlu, wrth i Faer Llandudno, y Dyn Mwnci a'i wraig, ddod at ei gilydd gydag eraill i roi pen-blwydd bythgofiadwy i Harold.
Wrth sôn am gyfarfod gyda Harold yng Nghaffi Haven, dywedodd Janet:
"Roedd hi'n wir anrhydedd cael cyfarfod â Harold, a chlywed am ei fywyd anhygoel, yn enwedig ei flynyddoedd yn y Llynges Frenhinol yn ystod y rhyfel yn Ewrop, a'r Môr Tawel.
"Hefyd, roedd yn hyfryd clywed y cyfan am ei ddathliadau pen-blwydd lle'r oedd y gymuned wedi dod at ei gilydd i helpu i wneud y gorau o'i ddiwrnod arbennig. Dywedodd wrthyf ei fod yn brysur iawn gyda chwe pharti i gyd!
"I gofio ei ben-blwydd, mae Harold wedi herio ei hun i gerdded 100 o weithiau o Gartref Gofal Abbeyfield, i un o'i hoff lefydd, Caffi Haven ar Stryd Madog. Hyd yn hyn, mae wedi cwblhau 58 o deithiau cerdded ac wedi codi dros £146. Ar ôl ei chwblhau, bydd elusen yn cael ei dewis gan Harold a'i fab Neil.
"Dymuniadau gorau i Harold i gwblhau ei daith gerdded noddedig. Os ydych chi'n gallu cyfrannu, gallwch wneud hynny drwy ymweld â Chaffi'r Hafan"
DIWEDD
