The 'brilliant' neighbours of a great-grandmother have been praised by her son after they came together to serenade her on her 92nd birthday.
Roma Drinkwater, of Chilwell, turned 92 on Sunday, April 12 and to mark the occasion, around 30 of her neighbours came out onto their front gardens to sing happy birthday to her.
The event took place in accordance with social distancing restrictions and Mrs Drinkwater came out of her home of seven decades, to watch and listen from her front gate.
The great-grandmother-of-three told her son, Paul Drinkwater, that she was "totally surprised" while also expressing to one of her neighbours later on, that she had felt very emotional by the heartfelt message.
Mr Drinkwater, of Beeston, said: "I've been visiting her during the lockdown to take essentials over and I went round on the morning of her birthday with presents and cards.
"I knew what the neighbours were planning for the afternoon, but I wanted to leave it to them.
"I just gave her a ring at the right time and told her to go outside.
"After they sang, she rang me straightaway and was totally surprised. She's finding [isolation] quite challenging even though she understands the importance of what we need to do.
"All the family thought what the neighbours did was brilliant - she'll live off it now."
Mr Drinkwater said that his mum had lived in the same house since 1951, has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He added: "Just like any other elderly person, she is finding it very difficult at the moment.
"She's quite a gregarious person and enjoys socialising, going out for coffee - she's still relatively independent.
"She was a founding member of the Beeston Operatic Society and started work at the age of 14. If you ever ask her the secret to a long life, she says its how long she has worked."
Neighbour of two years, Lynette Tomlinson, 68 said: "Roma is so sociable and I know this has been very hard for her not see to people.
"Whenever there is any get together on the street, Roma comes along - she's the first to arrive and the last to leave.
"She's very popular, everyone loves her.
"The whole street has been pulling together with food deliveries, cake baking drop offs.
"Every Thursday after everyone comes out for the clap, we have a bit of a sing - that's how we found out we have an opera singer on the street!
"We just thought we had to do something for Roma's birthday.
"I had a chat with her later and she said she had to go inside after because she was quite emotional. When this is all over we are planning a big street party and I know Roma will love that too."
