Lockdown hero Geoff receives honour from Queen for his help of vulnerable people in Wisbech

"Absolutely gobsmacked" that's the verdict from a Fenland supermarket delivery driver who has been honoured by the Queen for his help of vulnerable people during lockdown.

Geoffrey Norris, a driver for Asda in Wisbech, said he initially thought it was a prank when he received an email telling him he had been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours announced today (Friday).

He said: "I had the email and I just said to my wife Vanessa, what's this, and she looked at it and said 'there's an attachment'. When I looked at it again I realised it was from the Cabinet Office, and it was real.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked - I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would receive such an honour, I feel blown away by it to be honest."

Geoff is going to have to wait a while to receive his medal and to attend a celebratory royal garden party because of the pandemic.

But he said: "I attended a meeting with the Cabinet Office last night (Thursday) via Zoom to talk about the award and it was just surreal. I understand I might have to wait to get the medal and that, but that's fine I'm on cloud nine about the whole thing any way."

The 53-year-old father of two was nominated for the award by Matt Morris, the general store manager of Wisbech Asda, for the work he did to help vulnerable customers during 15 weeks of lockdown.

Geoff explained: "Being out on delivery I realised how hard it was for the elderly and more vulnerable people to get the shopping they needed. They were unable to book deliveries because they were in such high demand and they were worried. I was also getting contacted by people from miles away worried about their elderly relatives.

"Last year my daughter, Anna, was really, really ill with cancer and as a parent I didn't know what to do, but the response we had from everybody and the help we got was fantastic, so I know how important it is to help people if you can.

"Anna, is high risk and so couldn't go out and that’s one of the reason’s I did it, as I know how vulnerable people are,

"My wife and daughter also wanted to do something to help and so they manned the phone to take orders and looked after the dozens of emails we would get from people from all over the place worried about their elderly relatives.

"I asked colleagues if they would be willing to join me and I had five drivers offer to help and nine pickers said they would do the shopping and it went from there.

"I know I have been given this award, but it really was a team effort and I made that clear when I attended the meeting with the Cabinet Office and I named those people who had helped me. In fact someone joked it was the first time they had had a Bafta-style speech, but I wanted to acknowledge it wasn't just me."

On an average Sunday Geoff would make around six deliveries using his own car, but on one Sunday he actually did 17. He continued to do the deliveries for 15 weeks, until it was clear that supermarkets had caught up with the demand for deliveries and click and collect.

He said: "I stopped when I could see everyone was getting the slots they needed, which is great. All the supermarkets have increased capacity, and I know Asda have not just doubled the number of slots but there are at least five times more available.

"But I have also told people I'm still there if they need me."

Geoff and his team's actions were described as a 'life-line' by those they helped and they even made one regular customer's birthday special after learning she would be marking her 90th on her own.

Observing social distancing Geoff and his colleagues decorated her bungalow and brought her cake and flowers and read out messages from her family who live in New Zealand.

Geoff concluded: “We’ve known these people for years and we needed to help them. They are our people. I'm still in touch with them, they are like family now."