An Asda checkout mum has been heralded for going above and beyond with a young customer through a special bond that the pair share.
Ann-Marie Davidson, 46, who has worked at the Asda Dunbar store since it opened 14 years ago, has built up the sweetest of relationships with three-year-old Ciaran Hay over the last few years.
Ciaran has been chumming dad Niall Hay on the family shop since he was born and he would show Ann-Marie a toy each week and stop for a natter whilst she scanned the rest of the messages.
But when the cashier was not at work shortly before Easter, Ciaran took note, and the young whippersnapper informed one of her colleagues that he missed her.
Having been touched by the message from Ciaran, Ann-Marie set about creating an Easter hamper and arranged for a visit from the Easter bunny during his next shopping trip.
The long time Asda employee said: “I've known Ciaran since he was a baby and he is just the loveliest boy. I've always said hello to him since he was tiny and as he's got older, he always comes up to my till, bringing a toy for my conveyor belt which I pretend to scan for him. If there's a queue he will stand and wait for his turn to come and speak to me. He really is lovely.
"It's so nice knowing there's a little boy looking out for me when he comes in and wants to know about my day!”
Ann-Marie's eight-year-old son Jacob is a pupil at Dunbar Primary School, where Ciaran's mum Laura is the deputy headteacher.
She said her experience as a mum means she knows how important it is to make sure customers' children enjoy their trips to the store.
She continued: "I was upstairs on the telephone when the family came in a couple of weeks ago and I heard that Ciaran was upset because he missed me and I felt bad, so I made him and his brother Connor a little Easter basket with treats and bubbles, which they both loved.
"Having a little boy of my own means I relate to parents and their children. It can be hard for parents when their children get upset because they want things, so in my view children should be the main priority. You need to look after them – they're our future!"
Ciaran’s father, Niall Hay, has commended Ann-Marie for the exceptional service that his family receive when doing their weekly shop in the store.
He said: "It's not easy shopping with a three-year-old who just wants to run around and explore new things, but we would get to the checkouts and it would always be Ann-Marie serving us. She would always make an effort to chat away to Ciaran.
"He really enjoys seeing her and has started bringing toys in with him. She has made it easier for me to load all the shopping and get things done while still doing her job.
"As I'm finishing off packing, Ciaran is still chatting away to her about what we're doing that day or where we're going. He really does enjoy seeing her."
Ann-Marie, who lives just a five-minute walk away from the store, says lots of colleagues and customers have a close bond at the Dunbar store.
She said: "We're like a big family in that store. Dunbar is a small town, and everyone knows each other which means we form close relationships with our regular customers. I love working there because they are like family, not colleagues or customers. We always have our regulars, so you know who wants to have a laugh and who enjoys a nice bit of friendly banter."
Do you have a community champion that goes above and beyond that you would like to celebrate? If so, please contact: Jacob.Farr@reachplc.com
