Kind-hearted supermarket worker takes lonely pensioner on 'first date' in 55 years

A Sainsbury’s worker has recalled how she was ‘reduced to tears’ after inviting a lonely widower to dinner because he had no close friends or family.

Edwin Holmes, 86, put on an immaculate suit and tie as he went for dinner with 22-year-old Ellie Holmes after she heard how he spends the majority of the time by himself.

When he arrived for the meal clutching a bunch of flowers and wearing a suit, Ellie admitted that she was ‘moved to tears’.

She told The Sun: ‘He said it was his first “date” in 55 years and he was as nervous as a schoolboy.

Ellie works in a Leeds branch of the supermarket giant, and began talking to Edwin after he popped into the store on a nearly daily basis.

But after hearing that he would be spending Christmas alone, Ellie felt obliged to act – and the meal marked the start of a burgeoning friendship which now sees the pair regularly meeting for coffee and a chat.

Ellie added: ‘He is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite customer.

‘He is the cutest man and so chatty. I thought if it was my granddad and he was alone I would want someone to talk to him.

‘I see him regularly now and we meet for coffee. It’s nice to be able to chat with him.’

Edwin, who lost his wife in 2006 after 45 years of marriage, said: ‘The dinner made me very happy as it was unexpected and I had very pleasant company.’

He has no family in the UK, with his daughter living in Australia with his two grandchildren.

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Edwin added: ‘As for the suit, it was my first date for about 55 years, and I got the flowers because I wasn’t going to go empty handed.’

We’ve definitely got something in our eye.