Priceless pictures returned to owner

Published: May 28, 2007 | 6299th good news item since 2003

An Uttlesford District Council refuse collector turned good samaritan on spotting photos and a driving licence in a handbag that had been binned.

He reckoned they must have been thrown away by mistake. He quickly checked the driving licence for details – and knocked on the door.

Owner Christine Marks of Saffron Walden said: “I was most surprised. It was nine in the morning and there

he stood, bless his heart, with my priceless photos. It was clear the binman cared and I was deeply touched by his manner.

“He said it was the council’s policy to return things thought to have been thrown away accidentally. He had a big smile on his face and was just wonderful.”

Mrs Marks rang the council to thank them and asked if refuse collector Gerald Mallyon, who found the handbag, could be commended by his boss.

“It shows our local authority staff do care,” she added. “I was very relieved to get the handbag contents returned – all that’s necessary for a hearing aid, a plastic wallet with my driving licence as well as pictures of myself and my twin sister aged 14 and one of my son as a baby – he’s now nearly 37.

“The photos are irreplaceable. The other items are important too. I wouldn’t have realised they were missing until I needed them again.

“I’d bought a new bag and put my old one out – it had already been in the bin for a week as I’d missed a collection. Little did I know what was sitting in it.”

Mrs Marks promised the next time she changed handbags she would be more careful.

Mr Mallyon said: “It was a lucky find, which made her day and I felt I’d done a good deed too – it’s nice to be appreciated by the public.”

His supervisor Mike Lodder said: “He’s certainly a good and valued member of the Shire Hill team – and proved he’s sharp-eyed too, so well done, Gerald.”

Other recent finds by UDC staff include a mobile phone found in Stansted Lower Street car park can bank and keys dropped by a blind lady in a communal bin. Both items were returned to their owners.

Published in Found
See also: www.saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk