A whistling postman and charity champion remains in a care facility after being sent to hospital following a fall at home.

Dale Howting, from Sittingbourne, has since received dozens of well-wishes from the community.

The 89-year-old is usually found in the town centre on his mobility scooter, often outside Poundland.

He first found fame after he was told off for whistling on his rounds and became a celebrity overnight when town folk demanded he carry on with his tunes.

Dale has been collecting money for good causes since 1977 and has previously been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement plaque presented to him by the council.

Last year he raised £7,600 for charity despite many obstacles – taking the total to £324,600.

He is also the proud holder of a British Empire Medal given to him by the Queen in 1990 and was the Swale Olympic Torch carrier for the London Games in 2012.

The much-loved resident had a fall at his home on Goodnestone Road in the early hours of Friday, June 21.

He was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital and was treated before being moved to the Frailty Unit at Sheppey Community Hospital in Minster.

Dale was then moved to Grafton Lodge, a residential, dementia and respite care home for the elderly in Strood.

Joanne Povey, owner of The Bay Leaf Cafè, visited him last Saturday (July 13).

“He's being well looked after,” she said. “Everyone's been coming in and asking us ‘where is he?’

“I just want people to know that he is fine, he had a fall at home and hopefully he will be back soon.”

Staff had collected several get-well-soon cards, which Joanne read out to Dale.

She said: “It was messages saying ‘we miss you’, ‘we miss seeing your smiling face’ – basically how much he was missed by not being here.

“There was a really lovely one that said ‘as a girl I used to ask my mum for money to put in your box and now I'm all grown up’.

“It brought a tear to his eye.”

“He is in good spirits and can’t wait to get home,” she added.

“He is missing everyone but just a little ‘dodgy’ on his legs at the moment so needs to rest up a while.”

Joanne, who has been running the cafe for the last 16 years, got to know Dale after offering him a drink.

“He started getting a free cup of tea and then he started coming in for his breakfast,” she explained.

“He would only have marmite on toast, but that's what he does every day. That's how we noticed when he wasn't there.”

In December 2022, Dale had to abandon his collections after toppling out of his mobility scooter and breaking his collarbone.

He was told to take six weeks off following the accident, which had happened whilst he was driving home from one of his daily shifts in Roman Square.

Dale is set for a big birthday on Wednesday, September 11, when he will be turning 90 years old.

His son, Shaun Howting, has confirmed he will continue to stay at the care home while he is assessed.

“He's having a respite there at the moment,” he said. “We are figuring out what he might need from a social services point of view.

“Either he will be able to set up at home again or worst case scenario, we'd have to find him a care home nearer here, which hopefully won't happen yet.

He added: “Dad is always appreciated by the community, without a doubt. I saw all his cards yesterday when we visited him.

“When he's missing, everyone notices his absence very quickly.

“He's been doing it for so long now, you could almost say he is part of the town's furniture.”

The Bay Leaf Cafe are still welcoming cards for Dale, which will be taken to him later this week.