A waitress from Pizza Express was praised last week for taking care of an older gentleman who was having a sad time on Valentine’s Day.
Multiple posts on Facebook and LinkedIn reported the exceptional service that Paige Whiles, 19 gave to Dr Roy Bailey who had trouble ordering at the Bracknell branch of Pizza Express in The Lexicon.
Cllr Dr Roy Bailey is not only a former senior policeman, but an executive member of Bracknell Forest Borough Council and father of a Government Minister.
His daughter, Olivia Bailey is the MP for Reading West and mid-Berkshire and serves in the government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Education and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities.
But Dr Bailey was having a sad Valentine’s Day. His beloved wife, Jeanne is suffering from dementia and has recently entered a nursing home.
He wrote on Facebook: “I was greeted by a young waitress, full of warmth and a genuine desire to be helpful. Not only did she sort out my Pizza Express app, she was keen to make me feel welcome and comfortable.
“During the course of my time there, I explained why I was alone and that, over the years, Jeanne and I had been regular patrons to both the Wokingham and Bracknell restaurants.
“The young woman asked about my wife and, when I told her she was in a care home, she was visibly moved.
“When it came to pay for my meal, the waitress returned to my table with the manager. They insisted on giving me a special discount, which of course embarrassed me.
“The young woman (I didn’t get her name) asked me for a hug.
“She is such a nice woman, full of kindness, empathy and generosity.
“She’s only 19 and I thanked her for making my evening much more interesting than it otherwise would have been.
“I have always believed that our young people are naturally kind, thoughtful and optimistic.
“With so much hate, intolerance and bigotry in our social media, young people like my waitress tonight give me, and us, hope for the future.”
Paige Whiles said: “It was so lovely meeting you. Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so sorry for what you are all going through and send all my love to you all.”
So far, his touching post has recieved 1,163 likes on LinkedIn, 302 hearts, 152 hearts and 628 likes on Facebook.
