The day honest Sandra gave a British tourist a warm feeling

A BRITISH tourist was left with “a warm feeling” after a good Samaritan returned her purse, which she had lost at a shopping mall.

Tracey Williams returned from a Somerset West mall last week when she discovered she had lost her purse, according to her husband Terry Williams.

Enquiries she later made at the shop where she had last used her credit card proved fruitless in yielding the purse, which had her credit cards, driver’s licence, documents and cash.

“She cancelled her credit cards, driving licence, etc, wrote off the cash in her purse and we all thought that was the end of the story,” said Terry.

But an email from Tracey’s UK bank the following morning informed her that a lady called “Sandra”, whose contact number the bank included, had found the purse, said Terry.

They met Sandra at a predetermined venue.

“My wife brought some roses as a big thank you and off we went to the mall.

“Sandra turned up on time and they recognised each other because they had previously discussed what they would be wearing. My wife gave her a big hug, handed over the roses and asked her where the purse was found,” said Terry.

Sandra Clarke told them she found the purse where Tracey had left it on the counter. Reluctant to leave it at the shop, she took it home and unsuccessfully tried through her South African bank to obtain Tracey’s contact details.

“Later on while at a winery she heard a group of people talking in an English accent and asked if they could help.

“One of the English ladies took a photo of the credit card and sent it to her son back in the UK.

“Her son contacted the English bank and the bank then emailed my wife with the name and phone number of Sandra.

“How wonderful that all these people, and particularly Sandra, would put so much effort into helping a stranger,” said Terry.

There had been about R2 000 in the purse when Tracey lost it.

Terry said the couple were spending about three weeks in the Stellenbosch/Somerset West area and would spend the last week in Knysna.