'˜Hero' teenagers come to the rescue of pensioner in Chesterfield town centre

Eric Taylor, 72, of Mill Street, Chesterfield, was walking his seven-year-old Dutch shepherd near the Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre at Rykneld Square on Friday, October 14 when he saw a man “shouting” and “screaming” at other members of the public.

Mr Taylor, who uses a walking stick because he has arthritis in both of his knees, said: “He was throwing his arms around and being a general nuisance.

“I thought I would get out the way and head towards St Mary’s Gate but he made a beeline for me and came behind me which made me wary because I had to watch out for my dog.

“I told the man that I did not want to listen to him but he was talking gibberish.”

It was then that two girls, believed to be students, came to the rescue of Mr Taylor and offered to walk with him and told him they would look after him.

“They were reassuring me,” Mr Taylor said. They made feel much better about the situation.

“They were really nice and told me this kind of thing should not be happening.

“I felt a lot safer when I got to St Mary’s Gate and I thanked the two girls.”

Mr Taylor, who is in remission from lymphoma cancer, is married to his wife Pauline, 68, and has lived in the town for more than 30 years.

He told the Derbyshire Times that incidents like this are becoming more frequent and that he would like to see a “higher police presence” in the town centre.

“When you get to 72 you get a bit less tolerant of younger people,” Mr Taylor explained.

“This sort of behaviour leaves me feeling vulnerable.

“But the two girls who helped me have restored my faith.”

He added: “There have been cutbacks to the police but perhaps it is a problem that could be solved by more community police.

“I have always come into Chesterfield to do my shopping. It is a great town to live in.”

Mr Taylor said he would like to meet the two youngsters who helped him again.

“It made me realise there are good people out there,” he said.