A 70-YEAR-OLD cyclist touring England will visit older people from a retirement property in Chippenham so they can sign a 90th birthday card for the Queen.

Terry Keen, from Surrey, popped into Anchor’s St Clements Court in Brook Street last Saturday, one of 90 Anchor properties he is visiting, where he was greeted by tenants Jean Hewer and Barbara Mortimer.

Since March 14, the pensioner has been on the road as part of a 1,400 mile challenge across England, has collected an estimated 3,000 signatures for the specially-designed birthday card and has raised £5700 for charity Grandparent Plus.

“It’s really something that Terry is travelling around the whole of England to bring this birthday card for older people and Anchor staff to sign. It means so much to us because we all think very highly of her Majesty,” Mrs Mortimer.

Mr Keen, who will complete his 57-day challenge on Monday, May 9 in Cornwall, said: “It has been very tiring cycling all this way and I have many more miles to go but knowing it’s for a good cause and the cheers I’ve received at different Anchor care homes and retirement properties has really spurred me on.

"They had also done a brilliant job raising more than £220 for Grandparents Plus which was one of the largest amounts a single property has raised during the Tour de Terry. I was really touched by the tenants’ generosity.

“The Queen and I are both grandparents so it seemed relevant to raise money for Grandparents Plus which is such a worthwhile charity.

“Not many other people will have signed a birthday card that has travelled around England and will be read by the Queen.”

To donate to the charity or to find out about Tour de Terry visit www.anchor.org.uk/Terry