FOURTEEN Leap Year children, ranging from ages four to nineteen, gathered at The Falcon Hotel in Bude at midday on Saturday, February 29, to celebrate their birthday that very day — each brought a ‘responsible’ adult.

Many had never met another child born on February 29, none had ever been in such a group of similar children — so it was an unusual event.

The birthday cake had four candles for the youngest, 16-year-old Elsie Whitaker from Pyworthy, to blow out.

It attracted some media attention, featuring on ITV on Friday, February 28, BBC Spotlight on the Saturday and local BBC radio on Monday, March 2.

The event was organised by Christopher Darwin, who said all the months of planning had been worth it.

“I was extremely happy with it. The Falcon Hotel looked after us very well and the people all enjoyed it. I bought each one a balloon with their name and age on it, and that went down well. It was an interesting exercise.”

A Facebook page is now being set up to organise the next gathering.

Those in attendance were: Christopher Darwin, Bridgerule, 19; Will Nokes, Bridgerule, 15; James Hicks, Week St Mary, nine; Sheila Phillips, Welcombe, 18; Stephen Luckwell, Exeter, 15; Jan Studley, Honiton, 17; Julian Totterdell, Cullompton, 13; Pauline Abbiss, Callington, 16; Patricia Mitchell, Pensilva, 16; Julie Allen, Dartmoor, 13; Sophie Jinks, Holsworthy, seven; Elsie Whitaker, Pyworthy, four; Zelma Honeysett, Ashwater, 15 and Ziggy Cope, Bude, 14.

The party wasn’t the end of the celebrations for Christopher however, as he was taken to Bridgerule Village Hall in the evening by his wife Heather, where he was greeted by 60 well-wishers for a surprise birthday party.