Supermarket staff lend a hand to disabled holidaymaker on the Broads
General assistant Sophie Freestone from Acle Budgens with store manager Richard Billington-Howes.Picture: James Bass - Credit: Eastern Daily Press © 2014
A supermarket has come to the rescue of three brothers on holiday in the Norfolk Broads.
When Steve Jones, 65, wanted to have a relaxing break with his two brothers he hoped a grocery delivery would be the last thing on his mind.
Mr Jones hired a boat along with brothers Mike and Eric - who suffers with a brain injury after a motorbike accident and could not be left alone.
Steve, who cares for Eric, contacted big chain supermarkets asking for help to deliver a food shop to the holiday makers.
When they refused because they could not take payment over the phone, Budgens in Acle were able to step in to help the men at Horizon Craft Acle boat yard.
Steve, from Gobowen in Shropshire, said: “I really can’t speak highly enough of them, if it hadn’t have been for Budgens I would still be loading shopping onto the boat.”
He explained the brothers had planned the three week holiday as a quiet break and it had come at a time when Mike, 62, was about to receive a diagnosis he believed would be for Parkinson’s.
Most Read
- 1 Six arrested after Willow the dog finds 'substantial' quantity of drugs
- 2 Landlord finds 20 rabbits abandoned at home after tenants move out
- 3 Mixed feelings for traders as they move into Great Yarmouth's new market
- 4 From schools to shops: All you need to know about living in Gorleston
- 5 Rollesby mum shares heartbreak after death of her seven-year-old daughter
- 6 8 places where you can see fireworks for free in Norfolk for the jubilee
- 7 'The best yet' - Yarmouth's celebration of wheels gearing up for return
- 8 Crews called to collapsed walker on remote Norfolk Broads' path
- 9 Drone shots show British warship anchored off Yarmouth ahead of Jubilee
- 10 Driver caught at speeds of nearly 100mph also found to have no licence
Their eldest brother Eric, 70, was left with no short term memory after a motorcycle accident left him in a coma for over a year.
In their time of need, Sophie Freestone, a general assistant at Budgens, delivered roughly £230 worth of food goods free of charge.
Sophie, 21, said: “They were so grateful, they were really finding it hard.
“We like to help others, it especially gives a good view for tourists.”
The assistant added Steve gave her an extra £20 “for their troubles”.
Manager at the store on Norwich Road, Richard Billington- Howes, 35, said: “We strive to help when we can and that was our intention.
“It was no trouble for us and we have branded ourselves a community supermarket, we did it because we were the ones willing to do it for them.”
