Caroline Flack: Schoolboy gives daffodils to strangers to spread kindness after presenter's death

‘For a nine-year-old to do that is so thoughtful,’ says child’s grandmother

Olivia Petter
Thursday 27 February 2020 11:15 GMT
Comments
(SWNS)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A schoolboy from Essex has been handing out daffodils to strangers after having felt inspired to spread kindness in the wake of Caroline Flack‘s death.

Earlier this month, the former Love Island presenter was found dead in her home aged 40 after having taken her own life.

Oliver Allen, 9, has since started leaving flowers with handwritten notes attached on people’s doorsteps in his home town of Rochford.

The notes read: “In a world where we could be anything, be kind”, which is a phrase taken from one of Flack’s Instagram posts that has been shared across the internet since her death.

Mr Allen came up with the idea himself after hearing about Flack’s death on the news.

“He handed out about ten bunches of daffodils and hand wrote the messages himself,” said Mr Allen’s grandmother, Dawn Avery.

Avery went on to explain the impact the flowers have had on people so far: “One lady was in tears and another lady received them and passed them onto someone else in her own act of kindness.”

One of Mr Allen’s neighbours who received the daffodils, Sarah Rogers, explained she found the flowers deeply moving.

“Whoever left these outside my house, thank you and god bless,” she said.

“We should all follow this person’s example and do just one random act of kindness for someone, no matter how big or small.”

(SWNS
(SWNS (SWNS)

Ms Avery said that she was “unbelievably proud” of her grandson for his charitable initiative.

“For a nine-year-old to do that is so thoughtful. He looks after small children at school and helps me with my shopping. He has a mature head on young shoulders.”

The 49-year-old added that more young people should do kind acts like her grandson.

“We want that generation to make people feel special and it doesn’t have to cost a lot,” she said.

“Many youngsters are desperate and don’t know where to turn, but just one small kind act changes someone’s day completely.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in