Women’s Day made by the kindness of Merseyside strangers

A woman has sent a big thank you to the people of Merseyside for their ‘non-stop kindness’ during a recent visit.

Christine Veitch, 75, from Cumbria, was on her way to visit her impoverished brother in Neston when her train to Liverpool Lime Street terminated at Preston, leaving her scrambling to catch the next train to the city.

Speaking to the ECHO, Christine said: “We were all dumped at Preston with six minutes to catch the next train. We had to rush through the station in an alternative train, which was already crowded.”

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That’s when the “wave of kindness” began. She said: “First of all, I was offered a place, which I was more than grateful for. I’m retired, but I’m not a crazy old lady or anything, so it was nice to start with.”

Then a kind stranger named Keith sat down next to her and reassured her about her journey. Christine said: “I spoke and mentioned that I was worried about whether or not I would get the train to Neston.

Keith led Christine through Lime Street Station, then checked the train times and waited until she was safely on board before motioning her off onto the platform. “He was so kind,” Christine said. “He even gave me a kiss when he left!”

But it didn’t stop there. Keith passed the baton of kindness to a lady called Jane, who was waiting on the same platform as Christine at Bidston. Christine said: “We got on the train and he saw me looking at a piece of paper that I had brought with me during the journey. She said, “I know where you’re going—I’ll tell. you where to get off’.

When they reached Neston, some boys lifted Christine’s case from the train for her, and Jane showed her to the high street, from where she was able to walk alone to her brother’s house.

Christine said: “People are always complaining about this and that, and I wanted to do the opposite. I want to sing the praises of the people of Merseyside.”

What excited her most, she says, was the range of people she met that day. She said: “They have been throughout the ages – old and young, male and female. And I didn’t ask for help, but people who volunteered. Made my day, honestly. I felt like I had a guardian angel with me. ”

Christine says she feels “at home” in Merseyside as it has a similar vibe to her native Tyneside. She said: “You’d never sit in a bus stop in the North East without someone talking to you, and that’s exactly how it is in Liverpool.”

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