A panto actor who found himself stranded with no way to get home for the festive season has had his Christmas saved thanks to the kindness and generosity of a Welsh couple. Nineteen-year-old actor Jay Airey has been working as part of the cast of Beauty and the Beast at Camberley Theatre in Camberley, and had plans to return home to Skipton to be with his family on Christmas Eve, with his train tickets booked.
But the young man's plans were thrown into disarray when he realised he would not be able to get home to be with his family as a result of the train strikes which will be in operation that day. It left his mum, Michelle Airey, heartbroken. She explained her story on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show. And she could never have anticipated what was going to happen next.
Sarah Watkins and husband Steve, from Abergavenny, heard her story, and decided they wanted to step in to help. They have decided to spend their Christmas Eve travelling 375 miles to pick up Mr Airey, and deliver him to his grandad, who will do the last leg of the journey. The couple will then return home to spend Christmas with their children.
Mr Airey explained: "My Christmas plans were to work in Camberley theatre's Beauty and the Beast, then go home and spend some quality time with my family and friends then go back to work on Boxing Day, and then after that, get back to Laine Theatre Arts to continue with my final year and start my third year musical.
"But due to the strikes, my train was cancelled and because I am in shows all the way up to 5pm on Christmas Eve, we didn't think I would be able to get home for Christmas, which was heartbreaking due to the fact I only go for home for a few days every year."
After learning of the kind offer from the Welsh couple, he said: "I found out about the offer from Sarah and Steve from my mum, she sent me a text while I was walking back to my accommodation after a three-show day. My initial reaction was definitely shock, I couldn’t believe it, I walked the rest of the way home with the biggest smile. I can only continue to tell Sarah and Steve how grateful I am for the lengths they are going to to help me. They are truly stars and I will forever be indebted to them.
"Christmas at home will be short-lived but very special. I can not wait to see all my family as I haven’t seen them in so long and I miss them all so, so much. My family were so, so happy, I had many phone calls. My mum said she was in tears of joy and counting her lucky stars. Due to my mum having MS, she wouldn’t have been able to do much to help me get home so this means so so much to her and me. It's a Christmas miracle."
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