UNSUNG HEROES
GREAT YARMOUTH BUSINESSES RALLY FOR STRANDED VISITORS
When 40 holidaymak- ers found themselves stranded in Great Yarmouth on one of the busiest weekends of the year, local busi- nesses were on hand to help. A group of tourists, who had travelled to the Norfolk resort from London, found them- selves marooned on the seafront on a recent Saturday night when a pre-booked coach failed to pick them up. Yarmouth companies pulled together
to
make sure their trip to the coast did not descend into a com- plete nightmare. Wendy Watson, from- town centre taxi firm Albies, said five of their drivers took
some of the holiday- makers
back to
London that night, while the rest man- aged to find a bed at Vauxhall Holiday Park on Acle New Road. Police
involved
became because
some of the holiday- makers had nowhere to stay and could not get back to London, so turned to officers for help. After being taken to Yarmouth police sta- tion by taxi,
the
majority of them were put up in local accom- modation
before
travelling home on Sunday morning. It is believed the visi- tors had to pay something towards their cab rides, but taxi firms declined to say
how much it cost them for an unscheduled trip to London late on a Saturday night. Amy Woodyatt, mar- keting executive at Vauxhall Holiday Park, said the efforts made for the holidaymakers show Yarmouth in a good light. “We were happy to offer our help and put everyone up at the park,” she told the Nor- wich Evening News. “The council and all local businesses ral- lied around to help, with Albies Taxis drop- ping people off here as late as 1am. “It just goes to show what great community spirit we have in Yarmouth and we pull together to help in times of crisis.”
INJURED LAD IS SAVED BY GLOUCESTER CABBIE PAUL
Heroic taxi driver Paul White has been praised for rescuing 12-year- old Harvey Lathey when he fell on his way home from school. Harvey fell
from a
swing while he waited for a bus home from St Peter’s High School, in Stroud Road, Glouces- ter, on Friday 21 June. After getting off the bus he struggled to walk
and was
approached by Paul, from Andy Cars, who was passing by at the time. Dad-of-three Paul not only took him to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, but got him into a wheelchair when they arrived and even called Harvey’s older brother to let him know what had hap- pened and where he was.
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Harvey’s dad Stuart told the Gloucester Citizen: “Harvey hurt his ankle and was helped on to the bus to the city centre by some friends. “After leaving the bus and attempting to walk to catch another bus back home in Long- levens, Harvey was approached by Paul, who obviously saw that he was in some distress so he was only too happy to help. “It’s great to know that there are still some good Samaritans out there in today’s world when it can quite often be doom and gloom. “We just want to thank him for his kindness. He’s been an absolute star. “We got Harvey a mobile phone so that
he could call if there was an emergency but it just so happened that he didn’t take it with him on that day so he was lucky Paul was there.” Harvey was paid a visit by Paul at his Long- levens home as he rested his broken ankle, which has been put in a plaster cast. Paul said: “I just did what anyone else would do in that situa- tion. “He looked like he was really struggling along and needed some help. I always try to do my best for everybody. “My youngest son is the same age and I would like to think that someone would do the same for him if some- thing happened to him which is why I helped out.”
GRIMSBY CABBIE’S CHRYSLER COMES TO THE RESCUE
A blushing bride made it to the church on time - with the help of a local taxi driver. Tracey Smith and Alan Bristow, from Grimsby, couldn’t afford an expensive wedding car for their big day. Former care worker Tracey, who was recently diagnosed with MS/ME, has been unable to work since last June. Alan only works part- time, so the pair planned
to use
Tracey’s son’s small car to get to Cleethor- pes Register Office. So when John Bevers, of John Bevers Taxis, picked up Tracey, an old
acquaintance,
from one of her regu- lar hospital visits and learned of her condi- tion, John immediately offered his services free of charge. Tracey, 47, told the Grimsby Telegraph: “I
have known John for a number of years, but not particularly well. “He used to pick up some residents from the residential home where I used to work and I always found him to be very cheerful, friendly and approach- able with a great sense of humour. “My condition has really changed my life. I used to be the hyper- active, chatty one and now it’s the complete opposite. “I used to go out every weekend but now we only go out about once a month. “It happened gradually over
the past ten
months. I started to feel extremely fat- igued, uncoordinated and got electrical feel- ings in my body. “MS has changed the way I live my life but, strangely, it’s nice in that we get to live day
by day now.” Alan, 55, said: “Tracey had to give up work and as I only work part time we have to keep a tight rein on the purse strings. “John’s kind offer came completely out of the blue and was a truly wonderful ges- ture. “He lost money just to make our day extra special and John, we think you, too, are extra special and we thank you so very much.” Generous John gave the couple the use of his Silver dream machine, a Chrysler 300C. He said: “It was great to be a able to give something back to a woman who has helped so many oth- ers.
I offered my
services in the hope that it would make her day that little bit bet- ter.”
PHTM AUGUST 2013
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