Store bans Help for Heroes woman
The Rochdale Observer
by Diane Leach
October 27, 2009
Supermarket staff allegedly refused to serve a woman after claiming her Help for Heroes charity wristband meant she supported the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Beth Hoyle, of Whitworth, claims she was turned away from the tills at Asda in Dane Street, because the checkout operator objected to ‘what she was wearing’.
The ’stunned’ mum-of-three said: “My hand instinctively went to the Celtic cross around my neck. But the young lad on the till said it wasn’t that, pointed to my Help for Heroes wristband and accused me of supporting the war. I told him it was nothing to do with the war, but about supporting our injured troops.”
Mrs Hoyle, whose brother is an ex-paratrooper, complained to a supervisor but was shocked to hear he backed his staff member’s approach.
She added: “I immediately complained to a supervisor, but he said the cashier was entitled to his opinion and it was his right not to serve me. I was disgusted.”
Help for Heroes was founded in 2007 to help the wounded servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The charity’s patrons include Johnson Beharry VC, General Sir Richard Dannatt and Andy McNab, as well as celebrities including Ross Kemp and James Blunt.
Posted: October 28th, 2009 under Afghanistan, Andy McNab, Andy McNab's Charity Work (and other worthy causes), British Army, Help for Heroes, Iraq.
Comments: 3
Comments
Comment from Matt
Time: Thursday 29 October, 2009, 06: 09
Can anyone recommend any other first person narrative books that resemble Andy’s in terms of style, pace and most importantly, humour?
I’m sorry to say this, but I have found the standard from Deep Black onwards really slipping, except from a couple of bits in Aggressor.
I’m really struggling to find an author as good as McNab’s earlier books (think esp. Firewall and Liberation Day – the pacing and description in the latter is astounding). The only person I’ve found recently is Simon Kernick – worth checking out but he doesn’t have the experience that adds the edge.
Does anyone know who Andy’s ghostwriter is? I take it he has one, on the basis of the change in style of the last few books and drop in quality. If possible, I’d like to read other books written by that ghost (if indeed he has one).
But I’ll keep reading Andy’s stuff – I’m just too loyal!
Matt
Comment from SixtySix
Time: Thursday 29 October, 2009, 13: 51
Hi Matt, thanks for commenting. I, too think Andy’s best work was his earliest, but I did love “Seven Troop” and we have high hopes for his latest.
As far as similar writers, it’s so hard to find someone with the mix of action and self-deprecating humour that Andy McNab has. I can’t think of anyone offhand who does it like Andy does, though I can certainly recommend some good authors in general if you’d like.
And by the way, Andy McNab says he has no ghostwriter and I believe him–though I also believe his editors work a little extra hard, if you get my drift.
Hope his new book blows you away!
Comment from Matt
Time: Friday 30 October, 2009, 09: 38
Hi SixtySix – yes, if you could recommend any authors I would appreciate that.
my email address should have come through with this comment.
regards -Matt
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