Bolton 86-year-old 'overwhelmed after woman pays for shopping

Tony Walkden from Horwich was shopping at Aldi in Higher Bridgeman Street when he got to the till and realised, he didn’t have his bank card on him.

The 86-year-old began putting his shopping back into the trolley when a lady behind him offered to pay his £20 total.

Tony tried to refuse but the lady insisted and continued to pay for his weekly groceries.

He called his brother, Graham Walkden, who suggested he make it public so that maybe the lady would see it.

Graham said: “He phoned me up the same day it happened and was all bothered about it, in a good way, but a little stressed about it because he couldn’t believe someone was being so nice to him.

“When she offered, he said he asked for her details so he could pay her back but she said it was his Christmas present.

“He saw her outside in a red Volvo where she waved and then drove off.”

Tony is hard of hearing and starting to become quite forgetful says Graham, especially after his wife Becky died a few years ago.

Graham said: “He’s recently had a heart operation so he’s not the same now and he’s a bit vulnerable.

“Tony was so concerned at not being able to pay her back.”

Tony was a carpenter by trade, becoming self-employed after leaving the army in his 20s.

Heis often shopping at Aldi and even suggested he could go back to the same store at similar times to see if he could see the good Samaritan again.

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Graham said: “It took me back when he told me because you don’t see such nice people these days.

“What a really kind thing to do and it makes you think there are still people like this out in the world.

“My brother just didn’t expect it, he thinks that nobody would usually care about him as he is old, so this was just a kind gesture and we’re very thankful.

"He's just overwhelmed."