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Homeless man does builds patio for hotel because they provided housing during lockdown
Eddie Boult needed a sanctuary amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fownes Hotel Worcester came to his rescue, and he's been returning the favor in every way he can.
Blake Hyatt
06.11.20

Meet Eddie Boult, a bricklayer by trade. Like countless others, heโ€™s facing economic hardships amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Workโ€™s almost impossible to come by.

Heโ€™s been staying in the Fownes Hotel in Worcester, England for the last few weeks. The hotelโ€™s been incredibly accommodating during the pandemic, refusing to close. Instead, theyโ€™ve opened their doors to those who need it most.

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Eddieโ€™s been putting his former trade experience to use, building structures for the hotel as a sign of gratitude.

Eddie explains,

โ€œI did it because I was bored but also as a thank you to the staff. Theyโ€™ve really looked after me.โ€

The hotelโ€™s been a beacon of hope amid dark days.

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The Fownes usually charges in the ballpark of ยฃ155 a night, but theyโ€™ve relaxed their rules during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Eddieโ€™s been paying them back in trade. In fact, he finished a new wall and patio within a matter of four days.

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The Fownes staff members have become heroes in their own right. In cooperation with a local homeless charity, theyโ€™ve given free rooms to the homeless and disenfranchised, easing the burden for dozens in the Worcester area.

The hotel has provided sanctuary for a total of 45 temporary guests.

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48-year-old Peter Swinbourne, a fellow guest at the Fownes, believes that the hotel and staff essentially โ€œsavedโ€ him. Heโ€™s been homeless for 25 years.

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Peter goes on to state,

โ€œI have never slept in a double bed before. Iโ€™m happy hereโ€”this is a five-star hotel putting up homeless people.โ€

Other guests sing a similar tune. Terence Marriott, a 55-year-old thatโ€™s been staying at the Fownes for six weeks states,

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โ€œI have been well looked after. It has been excellent. The food is also excellent. I feel a lot healthier than when I came in.โ€

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The hotelโ€™s assistant manager Julie Merrick explains the hotel experience amid the pandemic,

โ€œOur new guests have been lovely and grateful for the support they had been given and treat their rooms with respect. We stayed open simply because we wanted to help.โ€

You love to see it โ€“ people helping people.

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The hotelโ€™s been incredibly careful during the process, stressing sanitation and proper social distancing measures. As a precaution, the staffโ€™s removed alcohol from the hotel bars and strategically placed chairs in ways to prevent viral spread.

Fortunately, no coronavirus cases have been reported from the hotel during the crisis.

The Fownes put a couple safety documents on display to reinforce proper social distancing procedures,

โ€œCoronavirus โ€“ Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds.โ€

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Even the hotelโ€™s encountered its own economic hardships, furloughing 15 staff members over the recent months. Currently, the hotelโ€™s maintained by a small crew of 11. But theyโ€™re getting through it, one day at a time. The new guests have helped a lot.

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Julie goes on to add,

โ€œWeโ€™re the only hotel in Worcester doing this. Everybody else closed their doors. My staff are very brave. They have gone above their job role, absolutely. It has brought us all closer together as a team.โ€

In fact, the hotel has a history of righteous deeds, including opening their doors to about 30 people displaced by floods that plagued Worcester in February.

The Fownes Hotel Worcester deserves high praise for their efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis hasnโ€™t been easy for anyone, but the hotelโ€™s heroic acts continue to shine light amid otherwise dark days.

Eddie and the Fownes staffers are setting a wonderful example of compassion during the pandemic. Like them, weโ€™ll get through this together.

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