A ray of sunshine to cast away the gloom

Though warded in hospital after a fall, 88-year-old Alice brought cheer to other patients and visitors with her smiles and gungho attitude

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"You have a card," the nurse said brightly, waving the cherished item.

Alice beamed in surprise and said happily, her voice booming round the six-bed hospital ward: "Who sent it to me?"

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on September 23, 2018, with the headline A ray of sunshine to cast away the gloom. Subscribe