Kind-hearted regulars at a Penrith pub have dug deep during the cost of living crisis to support a member of the bar staff there after she endured the “Christmas from hell”.
Customers at the Grey Goat, in Sandgate, raised more than £1,350 after barmaid Shannon Hay and her son Hayden Graham were flooded out of their flat in Penrith.
On Christmas Eve, an estimated 1,000 gallons of water poured through the ceiling of the two-bed Riverside-run property at the Regent, in Old London Road.
The flat above had been unoccupied during the harsh cold snap before Christmas, but as someone moved in and, to counter the sub-zero temperatures, put the heating on — disaster struck.
With firefighters securing the premises, Shannon, aged 28, was left standing outside with her five-year-old son, who suffers from autism, with everything ruined. Even Christmas presents were wrecked, with only one or two of Hayden’s gifts surviving the flood.
Since disaster struck Shannon has been staying with a friend and her mum, and says the help of everybody — which has continued into the new year — has made a tough time just that little bit easier.
A fund was started behind the bar at the Grey Goat and a generous regular put in £100, with others donating white goods including a new microwave.
A separate online fundraising appeal set up by Shannon’s friend Nichola Davis and daughter Jasmine has increased the total raised in the pub by more than £630, after more than 30 people donated.
Shannon told the Herald: “I really just want to say a big thank you to everyone in the pub who helped — it has been a big stress off my shoulders. If it wasn’t for these guys in here, I would still be in the flat now with nothing as everything was ruined — sofas, TV, carpets, the lot.”
Pub regular Derek Weir was among those to support the appeal.
Customers hailed her as “a good lass and the salt of the earth who would help anybody”. Derek, who has offered to help redecorate her flat, is also continuing the online fundraising.
He said: “Any more donations that can help will be gratefully received.”
Mike Jacques, landlord of the Goat for 17 years, added: “Everybody loves Shannon and all of the regulars have been fantastic, absolutely fantastic. It’s a family pub and we always try to help each other.”
