Shoppers' community spirit let elderly man jump the queue
GUERNSEY'S community spirit took centre stage at the Co-Op St Martins yesterday when a queue allowed a 94-year-old man to skip to the front.
To facilitate social distancing measures, the Co-op was operating a one-out-one-in policy which results in a queue forming outside the shop.
When the elderly man, who Guernsey Police described as rather frail, joined the back of the queue, a woman offered to give up her place so he would not be forced to stand any longer than necessary.
This act of generosity set off a chain-reaction of people offering their place in the queue until one kind member of the public took it upon themselves to ask the rest of the queue if the man could skip to the front.
Soon after, another elderly man was also ushered to the front of the queue.
The story was recounted by Guernsey Police on social media in an attempt to highlight the war-time spirit on show as the island pulls together in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The police described the act of kindness as ‘the best of us coming through’ and, ever vigilant, attached a ‘mascara warning’ to the feel-good story.
The social media response proved once again that a heart-warming tale about queueing is the way into the hearts of the British, with an outpouring of over 200 supportive and celebratory comments.
One poster admitted the story had touched her: ‘That gave me a lump in my throat, we do have good in our community,’ she said.
Adam Legg said he witnessed the story unfold while on duty as the doorman at the supermarket.
‘I was the staff member on the door today and I must commend the spirit of every single person who stepped aside for both gentlemen.
‘It wasn’t warm out there today when you're just stood around and it was very pleasing to see such sincere community spirit.’
While a few posters questioned whether someone in an at-risk category should be doing their own shopping, many championed the benefits of independence and the man’s right to do his own shopping.
The majority, however, were touched by the story, which was just one example of the indomitable spirit on-show across the island in these difficult times.
