Edinburgh Tesco delivery staff surprise 'old Betty' with box of gifts on her 90th birthday

Susan Watson, 61, was astonished to open the door to supermarket staff with their hands full of gifts for her elderly mother Betty Mcgill on her 90th birthday.

The presents included bunches of flowers, a box of chocolates, a birthday cake and a card enclosing a £20 gift voucher.

Speaking to Edinburgh Evening News, Susan said she still cannot believe the generosity shown by the group of delivery drivers towards her mother, who lives in Sighthill, Edinburgh.

Betty Mcgill beaming on her 90th birthday having received a package of gifts from Tesco delivery drivers picture: supplied

"It was quite out of the blue,” she said, still sounding amazed by the moment the staff knocked on her mother’s door.

"My mum is still saying ‘is this real, did this really happen, are these really for me.’

"She can’t get over it either.

"On a big birthday that she couldn’t celebrate with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, it really brought light into her life.”

Betty Mcgill, who lives in Sighthill, turned 90 on Thursday, February 4 picture: supplied

The bundle of gifts included a card signed by all the delivery drivers who clubbed together to make Betty smile on her special day.

Susan said she does not know the individual members of staff, but she knows they deliver food from the Hermiston Gait Tesco branch where her mum has been ordering food from for several years.

“Whoever these wonderful people are I know they take the time out of their busy shifts to talk to mum and ask her how she’s doing,” Susan added.

"During this pandemic, some of these delivery drivers are doing a lot more than just dropping off food. They are bringing life into some people’s worlds by showing consideration and care for others.

Tesco delivery drivers surprised the elderly woman with a box of gifts on her birthday including flowers, a cake and a gift voucher picture: supplied

"It means the world to mum.

"I know that the staff who regularly see her all call her old Betty which I think is rather wonderful.”

Susan recently posted a message about the staff’s thoughtful gesture on online professionals platform LinkedIn which has received more than 3,000 likes so far.

She said she hopes one of the drivers involved in Betty’s birthday surprise will see the message so that they know how grateful she and her mother are.

Betty Mcgill, otherwise known as 'old Betty' to some of the Tesco staff who deliver food to her, smiling on her birthday wearing a badge saying 'All the best things were made in 1931' picture: supplied

"It just made her day and it is worth other people knowing about,” she added.

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