Born on April 9

Their front window always has a notice in it for whatever the street is collecting: coats in autumn, tins in winter, seedlings in spring. Born on the 9th, they keep the wider world in mind, and act on it.

They do it at once and with such good cheer that the collections overflow. Kind to strangers and devoted to their own people, they find time for both, and give it gladly.

Their self-belief rubs off, too. A few words from them and a nervous friend has signed up for the charity swim, suddenly sure they can do it, with them waiting at the finish to cheer.