Driver delivers 'lovely' surprise to widowed Sheffield pensioner

A Sheffield pensioner has thanked the Tesco delivery driver who brought her a card and flowers the day after her husband died.
Linda Heald with the card and flowers brought by her Tesco delivery driver after the death of her husband David.Linda Heald with the card and flowers brought by her Tesco delivery driver after the death of her husband David.
Linda Heald with the card and flowers brought by her Tesco delivery driver after the death of her husband David.

Linda Heald, from Park Hill, was devastated to lose her husband David to illness on December 22, the day before their 23rd wedding anniversary.

David, 68, had been suffering from serious health issues for some time, but his death still came as a shock to Linda - particularly with Christmas just days away.

The message inside Linda's card.The message inside Linda's card.
The message inside Linda's card.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Due to David's mobility issues, Linda had been getting her weekly shop delivered for about two years. With a delivery due the day after her husband died, Linda phoned the Saville Street Tesco and asked if she could return some items she had ordered for him.

Much to her surprise the delivery driver Liam Mellor then turned up at her door with flowers, a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine and a card signed by all the shop staff.

"It was really nice of him," said Linda, 66. "He's a nice young lad.

"He said if I needed anything, just to get in touch with the store."

David Heald.David Heald.
David Heald.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Linda and her son Andrew are now planning David's funeral and looking back over his life in Sheffield.

Despite being registered deaf after a childhood illness, David forged a career as a welder, working at Standard Piston Rings in Brightside.

He then got a job at disability employer Remploy before being forced to retire after a heart attack.

David had five children during his first marriage before divorcing and later marrying Linda, who he had met in his teens.

The message inside Linda's card.The message inside Linda's card.
The message inside Linda's card.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was a keen games player and was part of the dominoes and crib league at the Normanton Inn in Pitsmoor. He was also a Sheffield United fan.

"Everyone knew him," said Linda. "Everyone said what a lovely bloke he was."

The couple had booked a trip to David's favourite place, the Canary Islands, in February, and Linda still plans to go to the place her husband had always dreamed of living.

Today’s top stories:

David Heald.David Heald.
David Heald.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad