Bonnyrigg baker’s praised for lockdown response

A Bonnyrigg baker’s shop has been praised by a member of its staff and a local care home for its actions since the coronavirus outbreak began.

Staff at Bayne’s High Street store pack a car with their stock for Springfield Bank Care Home in Bonnyrigg.

Staff at Bayne’s High Street store returned to work last week, albeit with reduced opening hours, and strictly adhering to social distancing regulations.

During the shop’s closure the seven members of staff still received full pay and nobody lost their job.

Liz Allan, part-time senior sales assistant at the Bonnyrigg Bayne’s, has been delighted by her employers’ response. She said: “They really deserve praise. Mr Bayne went round the shops making sure all the staff were OK. His main concern has been the staff and trying to get us back as quickly as he could.

“But while we were off he paid everyone their full wage which was great.

“It’s a proper family business. I’ve been so impressed since I joined last summer.

“Mr Bayne takes care of staff. He has put all the safety measurers in place for the stores that have re-opened.

“Customers are cock-a-hoop that we are open again and all adhering to the social distancing measures. Bayne’s deserves recognition for doing all the right things in this climate, for staff and customers.”

The Bonnyrigg shop also donated all of its stock to nearby care home Springfield Bank when it closed for the shutdown.

Liz added: “Before we closed all our stock went to the care home. Mr Bayne gave us his blessing to do that.

“It was a couple of thousand pounds worth of stock. A full selection of cakes, pies, sausage rolls, fresh morning rolls, all our sandwich fillings, everything.

“That’s because on the day we closed we were well stocked up for the next couple of days of trade.

“The care home staff were delighted. They were literally almost in tears.”

Lynne Rennie, home manager at Springfield Bank Care Home said: Residents and staff were all very happy to see the laden jeep arrive – and to help unload it!

“All of us at Springfield Bank would like to say a huge thank you indeed to Mr Bayne and the cheerful ladies who organised the operation.”