Woman who lost her purse at Hemel Tesco wants to find good Samaritan who helped restore her faith in kindness

A pensioner from Kings Langley is appealing for the public's help in finding a good Samaritan who returned her purse after she lost it in the Tesco car park.

Jean Tate, who had been shopping at the store in Jarman Way on Friday (December 11) morning, realised she had lost her purse when she got to the Marlowes car park and went to pay for parking.

She said: "It must have been just before midday, I had popped to Tesco to do shopping for Christmas and I was getting groceries for my neighbours.

"When I was loading the boot I put the purse and my notebook on the boot ledge, the purse must have fallen off because the notebook was still there when I went to the boot later in the afternoon.

"I was in such a state, I had no money and cards.

"My first thought was to cancel my credit and debit card so I went to Barclays, they were very helpful and when I explained that my car was inside the Marlowes carpark and I had not money or cards they allowed me to take some money from my account.

"Having contacted both the Police and Tesco to report the loss I continued with my shift at the charity shop.

"On my way home to Kings Langley I checked with Tesco to see if the purse had been handed in.

"As the reply was in the negative, I drove home in a very miserable state feeling very depressed and not at all Christmassy!

"After unloading my shopping I poured myself a large gin and tonic to try and calm myself down.

"I had just sat down when my doorbell rang and a neighbour asked "Have you mislaid a purse or wallet?"

"Apparently a kind black gentleman had picked up the purse and as it contained my driving licence, which shows my address, he went to the trouble of trying to return the purse to me personally but as I was still in the shop he was unable to do this so he left it with my neighbour.

"He didn't leave his name, but my neighbour said he walked with a bit of a limp and was a black man and he believes he was driving a white Skoda.

"I was so relieved that it had been returned to me, I just want to thank him, he went to a lot of trouble to return it to me and not a lot of people would have done that.

"I am so grateful, I was in such a state on Friday. It's nice to see such a kind gesture, if anyone knows who he is, please could they let me know, I would like to thank him."

If you can help Jean thank this good Samaritan, contact [email protected].