Generous Casey gets Norman back to work; Teenager donates her bike to paperboy after thieves strike.Byline: Sarah Bunney A GENEROUS Echo reader has helped one of Britain's oldest paperboys resume his round. On Thursday the Echo reported how Norman Bennett, who delivers the newspaper to 10 pensioners in Ely, Cardiff Ely (Welsh Trelai tref town + Elai River Ely) is a suburb primarily dominated by council housing in western Cardiff, Wales. History The Ordnance Survey Map about 1881 shows just how isolated Ely village was from the rest of Cardiff. , had his bike stolen during one of his deliveries. The 81-year-old war veteran fell prey to the thieves while he was listening to grateful customer Theresa Thomas play him a song on the piano. Andrew Bartlett Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats, of which he is Deputy Leader and Party Whip. , 46, from Fairwater, Cardiff Fairwater (Welsh: 'Tyllgoed') is a village and district in north-west Cardiff. It is located a few miles from Culverhouse Cross which connects Cardiff to the M4 motorway. , was so disgusted when he read the story that he contacted the Echo and offered to help. The father-of-three won a silver mountain bike as the top prize at an annual fete run by Fairwater fair·wa·ter n. Nautical 1. A device used to fair the lines of an underwater fitting. 2. The bridge and conning tower on a submarine. Conservative Club. He planned to give it to his 12-year-old daughter Casey, but she insisted that Norman should have it. "I couldn't believe it when I read the story," said Andrew, a painter and decorator A painter and decorator is a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator or house painterref>[1] History of the trade . "The man has been through the war and for him to have fought for his country and then have his bike snatched is just disgraceful. He's doing a fantastic thing, delivering the paper to people in the area, so why shouldn't he have it?" Andrew, who is married to Alison and is also dad to nine-year-old Chelsey and 16-year-old fellow Echo paperboy James, added: "My boy has been doing the paper round for four years and if he had his bike stolen he would be lost. I was just hoping that the bike fitted him and he could ride it, but he hopped on and it was the perfect size for him." When the Echo broke the good news to Norman, he couldn't believe his ears. He said: "That is such a kind thing for the family to do. I would like to thank him very much - I'm so grateful. "Now I can carry on with my paper round and I don't have to disappoint all the people I deliver the Echo to. It's fantastic." Casey, a pupil at Bishop of Llandaff High School, said: "I felt really sorry for him because it's not nice to have something stolen from you. "I've already got a bike and was going to keep it for two years until I was big enough to ride it. "But I said to my dad that I wanted Norman to have it because otherwise he would have to walk everywhere." Andrew and Casey delivered Norman's new bike to him yesterday at his home in Ely. "I've adjusted the seat for him and given him a bike lock so hopefully it won't happen again," said Andrew. "He's a lovely gentleman and I'm glad we've been able to make him happy." CAPTION(S): Casey Bartlett gives the bike to Norman Bennett after his old bicycle was stolen when he was visiting a customer in Ely |
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