Woman overwhelmed by generous gift

A GOOD Samaritan has given a single mother he has never met £500 - after she was among thousands of people who lost money following the collapse of a national Christmas savings retailer.

The man, who has not been named, gave the generous gift to a shocked Kim Farmer after learning about her loss in the East Anglian Daily Times.

Ms Farmer, a mother-of-two, was among an estimated 100 factory workers at Glemsford-based Phillips Avent who lost a share of £30,000 when Christmas club retailer Farepak went into administration.

Choking back tears after she was told about the donation, Ms Farmer said: “I just can't get my head around it - I feel like I have won the Lottery or something.

“That someone who doesn't even know me would give £500 is so overwhelming and lovely. After all what has happened to so many people, this has restored my faith a little. This will make a massive difference to our Christmas and I am just so grateful to this man.”

Ms Farmer, who has two children, Ella, five, and Leigh, nine, said she could have been forced to cancel Christmas after Farepak went into adminstration - plunging an estimated 200,000 people nationally into financial problems.

The decision hit dozens of staff at Phillips Avent, a manufacturer of baby feeding products, where many lost more than £1,000 saved for the festive period.

Speaking at the time, Ms Farmer, who lives in Glemsford, said: “When we were told it was just devastating. Everyone affected just feels like they have been robbed and there were quite a few crying at work.”

But the anonymous donation has brought some cheer for Ms Farmer, who has worked as a production operative at the factory for eight years.

In a letter to the East Anglian Daily Times, the man said: “As a retired teacher, I know just what Christmas means to children, but I regret I cannot afford more for those who have suffered losses.”

Parliament last week called on the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the collapse of Fairpak.

dave.gooderham@eadt.co.uk