Festive goodwill alive this Christmas (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Festive goodwill alive this Christmas

GRANDMOTHER Rita Allen has been given a Christmas present to remember thanks to the kindness and honesty of a stranger.

She lost her purse on Saturday and had given up hope of seeing it again or the £130 she had saved for buying gifts.

She left it in Love Lane, Cirencester and thought because it is Christmas time someone might need the money more than her.

Mrs Allen, a 67-year-old grandmother of 12 from Rendcomb, said: "When I lost it I felt pretty upset but accepted that if someone needed the money more than me I would understand."

But later that day Mrs Allen received more than a little Christmas cheer when she got a call to say someone had found her wallet with the money still inside.

She said: "I was so relived to get it back. It's just a miracle to have one person pick it up and be totally honest."

She explained how she had just popped to Stratton Post Office on Saturday afternoon and had decided to drive to Keynes Country Park to walk her dog because the weather was nice.

She said: "On the way there I popped into the shops to get some presents. I remember putting my things down on the counter to rearrange everything before I put the bags in the boot."

It was only when she was leaving Keynes Country Park that she discovered her purse was missing.

"I had to beg them to let me out. I was very anxious because I didn't know where I lost it and it had all my money in."

But Mrs Allen need not have worried because a Christmas miracle had already taken place.

Michael Hine, 56, a builder in Culkerton, was popping back home to collect some spanners when he noticed the purse lying in the middle of the road at the end of Love Lane.

He stopped his van, picked up the purse and returned it to Mrs Allen after finding her address on her driving licence.

Although Mrs Allen has called him a hero, Michael said he would have expected anyone else to do the same.

He said: "It's just one of those everyday things. I thought it might have been thrown away but checked inside to see if there was an address or anything.

"I don't look at it as being heroic, it's just one of those things you do. "She said she didn't expect to see it at this time of year with people being hard up and everything."

But Mrs Allen still believes Michael acted above and beyond the call of duty.

She said: "I hope that we can all follow Michael's example and do the right and honest thing this Christmas. It has certainly filled me with gratitude."