Employee Of The Year Takes Lonely Customer For A Date

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Employee Of The Year Takes Lonely Customer For A Date

One young woman went well above and beyond the call of duty to give great customer service.

Ellie Walker, a 22-year-old worker at her local Sainsbury's grocery store, took one of her customers on a date over the Christmas holidays. Edwin Holmes, who's 86, visits the store most days to chat with guests and kill time.

When Ellie found out he would be spending the holidays alone, she offered to spend some time with him. All this has lead to an unexpected friendship between the pair.

Sainsbury's Press Office

Edwin's wife died in 2006, after 45 years of marriage. He has a daughter and grandchildren, but they've moved to Australia. Since they moved the retiree says he spends most of his time alone, and planned to eat a TV dinner by himself for Christmas.

When Ellie heard the news, she asked him on a date so he wouldn't be alone during the holiday. Edwin obliged, showing up in a suit with a bouquet of flowers.

Edwin and his flowers.Sainsbury's Press Office.

"It made me cry because I could see how much it meant to him," Ellie said. "For me it's the most important part of my job to speak with customers and see how their day is going."

The unlikely friends have stayed close in the past few months, getting coffee together a number of times.

"I thought if it was my granddad and he was alone I would want someone to talk to him," Ellie says, adding that Edwin is definitely her "favorite customer."

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