LETTER TO THE EDITOR: True spirit of Christmas

THE year is 2020, it’s been a testing year for everyone, lots of people have lost loved ones to Covid-19. Many more people have been furloughed or indeed lost their incomes completely due to the consequences of Covid.

Brexit is no closer to being resolved than when Theresa May was PM.

The situation appears bleak.

Christmas will always remain a time of reflection for most people and also a time for caring and sharing.

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The respective medias will highlight (rightly so, I may add) the terrific job that the NHS has continued to do throughout the crisis.

Let the story begin.

December 5 2020, I’m desperate for a plumber to sort a couple of radiators and run some new pipes to the hallway for a new radiator. Next job, find a good plumber!

Fortunately for me, I was introduced to one via the government “green homes” scheme and in September I qualified for a replacement combi boiler (free — yes free!) and the young man who along with his team of workers who completed the job (let’s call him Mark for the purpose of the story) was excellent. The boiler was replaced and fully functional within four hours and has been superb since.

The unfortunate side of wanting to employ such a tradesperson is that they are extremely busy all the time.

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However, having developed a good relationship with this guy and explained my dire plight, he offered his service along with his partner (let us call his partner Paul for the purpose of the story). The only time they could come was indeed Saturday December 5, 8:30am prompt.

As agreed and true to their word here they were and the job commenced.

During the installation of the radiators etc we talked about numerous topics from sports, cars, trades, education and family. Mark asked if it was ok to have his radio on throughout playing Christmas songs on a loop, which actually was very nice whilst all the work was being completed.

During the morning we talked about how Marcus Rashford had made a difference with regard to the free school meals etc, the conversation then became more localised and I mentioned a scheme one of Rotherham’s community schools had initiated for producing Christmas hampers for locals in need.

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Again the conversation drifted to education and at the end of the conversation the plumber said “it’s like they say, give a man a fish and he can feed his family for a day, give him a rod, teach him how to fish and he can feed his family forever”.

Profound, I thought coming from a young man doing well for himself, albeit working very hard to secure a decent standard of living for himself and his family.

Four hours later on the job was completed satisfactorily; all the radiators were red hot, rubbish all removed and floorboards replaced.

Just the question of how much I owed for their expertise and Labour.

“Nothing!”

“What do you mean?”

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“Consider it an early Christmas present, we’ve both enjoyed you and your wife’s company, the cup of tea was lovely, have a lovely Christmas and if you ever need a plumber you know where we are.”

At which point they left, leaving both of us somewhat stunned.

Yes, this is a true story.

Next step for me was to ring them to thank them both for their extremely kind gesture and to let them know that we could afford to pay and that we were very pleased with the work and didn’t expect anyone to work for nothing.

Once again they said that it didn’t matter and they were only too happy to have been of assistance.

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What a very nice gesture from two people who I hadn’t even met until September of this year.

Due to the kind gesture from the plumbers in question my wife and I were able to increase our donation to the community school organising Christmas hampers.

So, this year as well as the food parcel donation we choose to send each year, there was an added cash bonus thanks to the very generous plumbers concerned. I’ve purposely not mentioned them by name or indeed their company to save any embarrassment to them both, even though I would like to shout it from the rooftops.

This is a story of unwarranted kindness, genuine, kind, hard working people who make up the community we share. People who don’t want recognition or accolades for their deeds whatever their reasons may be, but as a pensioner myself and my wife too, it certainly restores our faith in society and the young people of today when two young men, both with young families themselves, are looking at the “bigger picture”! As they say; “actions speak louder than words”.

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I hope that this story restores a little bit more faith. It’s the best gift anyone could have given me for Christmas, just knowing that these type of people really do exist.

I would like to finish by saying that, if you do read the Advertiser lads I wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year!

Name and Address Supplied