A cafe owner and waitress who spent the first Covid lockdown supporting their elderly customers – and in doing so regularly putting their own health at risk – have now been recognised for their actions, after keeping quiet until now.

The Park Coffee Shop, located in Horse and Jockey Lane, has recently won the 'Make a Difference Award' through BBC Radio Cornwall for its hospitality during the Covid pandemic.

Cafe owner Herbie Glasson and 18-year-old waitress Freyja King were nominated for the award after they supported the elderly, vulnerable, scared, and disabled people in Helston during the first lockdown in 2020.

Herbie and Freyja worked every day from 8am for 28 weeks, delivering around 30 meals to people's homes, often by foot, and for those who lived further away they drove.

Often they were the only people that the customers saw all day, and were so glad to see them – albeit masked and gloved.

Herbie only has one kidney and has to have dialysis every night, so was told he should shield to protect himself from Covid – but instead decided to help his elderly customers instead.

Even though the duo never publicly announced their plans to offer the service, they still made sure to make deliver meals every day – even if it meant Freyja going through two pairs of trainers by walking around Helston!

 

Herbie and Freyja at the award ceremoney at Truro Cathedral. Picture: Melinda King

Herbie and Freyja at the award ceremony at Truro Cathedral. Picture: Melinda King

 

Freyja's mum, Melinda King, who nominated Herbie and Freyja, said: "I nominated them because they did an amazing job in the community and didn't tell a soul. They just went in early and peeled the veg together in their bubble.

"I'm absolutely over the moon for them, the town should be proud of them both. Everyone there at the awards was a winner, but these two bounce off each other and Covid made them good friends as well as colleagues."

Herbie has been the owner of the cafe for more than ten years, where they serve everything from cooked breakfasts and chips to roast dinners.

Freyja is a student at Helston Community College studying art and works at the cafe during the holidays and the weekends when she is at college.

She said: "It's kind of dawned on me now that we have won. Thank you for the support from the customers."