Unsung hero in Banbury benefits from acts of kindness

Prabhu Natarajan has been serving has a volunteer by giving out hundreds of isolation food packs to the people of Banbury in need throughout the pandemic.

Just last month Prabhu teamed up with his son, Addhu, and dressed as super heroes - Mr Incredible and Captain America - and delivered food and gift packs to children in the community as a way of celebrating Addhu's sixth birthday. Prabhu received an 'Unsung Hero' award from MP Victoria Prentis in December for his service to the Banbury community.

Yesterday, Monday February 1, Prabhu was on the receiving end of an act of kindness instead of being the one giving it out.

A retired mechanic in town, Damian Leaver, offered to help Prabhu with an oil change for his car, since he has used his car so much to deliver the isolation food packs to the community.

When Prabhu met Damian on Monday to get his oil change Damian not only changed his oil but also fixed several other items on Prabhu's car, and then declined any sort of payment.

Prabhu being very grateful for the act of kindness took to social media and posted a message on Facebook to show his thanks.

The message entitled #KINDNESS_AT_ITS_PEAK said: "This amazing gentleman Damian Leaver messaged me 1-month back that he is a retired mechanic and he can help with car oil changes for low-cost.

"As our car has ran nearly 600-700 miles total in the last 80 days for food packets delivery, I thought its better to change the engine oil alone.

"I messaged him back and met Damian today, and I told him I need to change the engine oil. This gentleman has changed car engine oil and then gave me spare extra engine oil, new air filter, new car brake pads, refilled car air, rain repellent lotion and cleaned car.

"Once everything has been done, I asked him how much should I pay in total???

"Damian replied me, 'You don't have to pay anything for me and its a gift for you. I know that you are helping few struggling families.'

"I was literally very shocked and I convinced him many many times, but he didn't accept.

"(U GUYS WILL BE BLOWN AWAY IF U READ WHAT HAPPENED NEXT)

"Before leaving from his workplace, I was reversing our car. He suddenly noticed that our car wiper blades are broken and he asked me to stop and he ran towards his car. This amazing gentleman removed wiper blades from his car and fixed those new wiper blades to our car.

"Damian, you are such an amazing selfless human."

But this is not the first time Prabhu has received an unplanned 'act of kindness' from someone. In December in the run-up to Christmas Prabhu's neighbour, Tomasz Matuszewski, filled his car up with petrol, free of charge.

Neighbours, friends and even local business owners are pitching in to help Prabhu as he continues to help the community during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Local business owner, Jane and Kenny Gillett who run and own Sweet Celebrations in Banbury, have sponsored some of the gift and food packs and provided the super hero costumes for Prabhu and his son to dress as Mr Incredible and Captain America.