Boys in blue come to shoppers’ rescue
Two of Campbeltown’s finest police officers came to the rescue of Shopper-Aide staff whose car broke down in a supermarket car park.
Officers Allan Wallace and Rob Jones assisted Lesley Harvey and Kelly Brown when the Kintyre charity’s car, named Blueberry, would not start after a trip to Tesco for essential supplies for the area’s elderly citizens last Friday.
With massively increased demand due to the coronavirus crisis, the breakdown could have caused a real problem for Shopper-Aide had the officers not stepped in.
Not only did they give the ladies a lift in the back of the police van, but they also helped them make all their local deliveries before dropping them off at Shopper-Aide’s office on Longrow.
Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie, area commander for Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, said: ‘Local officers are really busy just now dealing with a wide variety of calls and incidents connected to the current lockdown and COVID-19 situation.
‘However I was delighted that Constables Wallace and Jones still managed to find time to assist the local Shopper-Aide staff.
‘The service Shopper-Aide provides is invaluable and I am pleased we were able to assist them to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.’
Shopper-Aide has recently had a £10,000 boost, receiving £5,000 from West Kintyre Windfarm Trust and £5,000 from East Kintyre Windfarm Trust. Joan Stewart, ShopperAide’s project manager, said: ‘We want to say a very big thank you to both windfarm trusts for these substantial donations.
‘As you know, one of our cars broke down last week, and another car wouldn’t start. In addition, one of our computers wouldn’t work either. We’re hoping everything comes in threes and that’s our bad luck over.
‘However, these things all cost Shopper-Aide money. Without the support of funders like West Kintyre Windfarm Trust and East Kintyre Windfarm Trust repairs like these to our cars and technology would not be possible.’