A heartwarming story about a community coming together to show their appreciation for a man who helps keep their streets clean hit a snag when his boss told him he couldn’t accept holiday donations.
In Beckenham, south-east London, more than 200 people have donated money to send Paul Spires to Portugal for a summer holiday. By Monday, £3,000 had been raised, most of it in small amounts of £5 or £10.
But Mr Spears, 63, will not be getting on a plane: his employer, waste management company Veolia, has issued an order banning employees from accepting “gifts or incentives”.
The money was raised as a token of appreciation for Ms Spears’ seven years working as a road sweeper in the London borough of Bromley, where she “lifted everyone’s spirits with her positive presence” and kept the streets clean, according to the fundraiser’s initiator.
Lisa Knight, who owns a local real estate agency, said Spears was “loved by everyone” and that the two had bonded over their shared love of Elvis Presley, whose music is often blasted from portable speakers by street sweepers as they work.
“I can hear him walking down the street and the music always lifts my spirits,” said Knight, whose daughter was named Lisa Marie after Presley’s daughter.
She said Spiers worked hard in all weather conditions and was a “beloved member of the community.”
She learned that despite his hard work and dedication, he had only traveled abroad once, on holiday to Portugal with his brother and sister to celebrate his 60th birthday. He told her that he dreamed of a second trip, but that he would have to save up money to do so.
“At the time we thought we’d set up a fundraising page, but we never expected so many people to donate,” Knight said. “We were both so moved by people’s generosity that it brought tears to our eyes.”
Knight contacted Veolia to tell them about her community’s campaign. “I didn’t want to get Paul in trouble,” she says. “I was really shocked when they told me I couldn’t take the money. They said it could be seen as a bribe.”
She said Mr Spiers had “taken it” with the news. “He doesn’t want to lose his job and he’s enjoying it. I just hope Veolia changes their mind.”
A Veolia spokesman said: “We are extremely grateful for the support and recognition from the local community for the fantastic job Paul does keeping Bromley’s streets clean alongside our hard-working street cleaning teams.”
But the company said its contract with Bromley Council “does not permit staff to receive any payments or incentives outside the agreed pay structure”.
Veolia said it would match any money raised to a charity of Spears’ choice. “Paul will receive Bromley’s Employee of the Quarter award, an internal reward which recognises his hard work and dedication,” a spokesman said.
