McDonald’s boss praises mystery Somercotes customer’s act of kindness

The youngsters from Alfreton Park Community Special School, on Wingfield Road, had been to the B&Q store at Somercotes with teaching assistants to buy plants and goods for their school garden when they visited nearby McDonald’s.

But to their amazement, a very generous man in the drive-thru at the restaurant passed on £40 to staff to pay for the students’ lunch.

McDonald’s Franchisee Jacqui Moore, of the Somercotes restaurant, said: “It’s really heart-warming to hear stories like this of our customers’ generosity.

“The children at Alfreton Park Community Special School occasionally visit the restaurant as a treat and it is lovely to hear that someone has kindly paid for their meals in this random act of kindness.”

Staff at B&Q had also treated the youngsters to a massive discount for their plants which were reduced from about £4 to 50p each.

The sixth-form special needs students had gone shopping to develop their social skills.

Deputy headteacher Rhys Hancock said: “We want to say a big thank you. This man was just passing through and they could be from anywhere but we’d like to invite them to the school so the youngsters can thank them in person.

“We’ve been doing work on random acts of kindness and Samaritans and this is a chance to celebrate that sort of kindness.

“We’re very much about taking our students into the community and as a special school we’ve an obligation to make sure the community develops an awareness of our students and it’s very nice for them to have been recognised with kindness.”

The school has submitted a thank you letter for McDonald’s to put up in the restaurant in the hope the mystery benefactor may return and spot it.

The man, who was driving a big car - possibly a Jaguar - is also urged to call Mr Hancock at the school on 01773 832019 so he can personally thank him.