Hawick takeaway chipping in to help out old folk

A Hawick fish-and-chip shop owner is serving up community spirit by delivering free meals to old folk and vulnerable people in the town.
Erdol's Fish Bar boss Erdal Orak with Onder Ouven, Gheorghe Cristina and Osman Amet.Erdol's Fish Bar boss Erdal Orak with Onder Ouven, Gheorghe Cristina and Osman Amet.
Erdol's Fish Bar boss Erdal Orak with Onder Ouven, Gheorghe Cristina and Osman Amet.

Over the last two weeks, Erdal Orak has distributed up to 70 meals a day to Teries in need - and not accepted a single penny in return.

Erdal, owner of Erdol’s Fish Bar in Bourtree Place for the last six years, says those complimentary deliveries of fish and chips, pizza and burgers are a way of doing his bit during the Covid-19 crisis.

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The Turkish-born 46-year-old said: “Anything they want they can have – pizza, burgesr, fish, anything we can deliver to their door. I just wanted to help the old people.

“Everybody needs to help each other in times like these.

“Many of the old people in Hawick are scared to go out.

“We deliver to houses where sometimes people have not had a meal for three days. It’s a shame, and I try to give them everything.

People have been taking up the offer. It’s worth it when you knock on the door and you see the smile on the old person’s face. That is all the reward you need.”

Erdal, also boss of the nearby Black Horse cafe in the town’s Oliver Place, added: “I have been living in Hawick for 12 years and I have got to know a lot of the people.

“Yesterday I did more than 70 meals in a single day.

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“I am still trading, but business is down because people are not going out. We are sticking to the rules for those who do come, with only one person allowed in the shop at a time.

“My name is Erdal, but because people call me Erdo, I put an O in the name of the shop and called it Erdol’s.

“The town will get through this, I’m sure.”

Erdal’s gesture has been warmly welcomed on social media by townsfolk.

David Bell posted: “With the common riding being cancelled, this year’s motto is ‘rally roond oor ain’.

“What a wonderful, kind, thoughtful, selfless gesture by Erdol’s chippy. Fantastic community spirit.”

Eunice MacDonald added: “Thanks so much for mum’s fish supper. She was so chuffed.”

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