University Cleaner Brought To Tears After Students Raise £1,500 For Jamaica Trip

Students often get a bad rap in the UK - scrounging, lazy prats having way too much fun talking about philosophy all day long - but this may change your mind...

A crowdfunding campaign at the University of Bristol has enabled a cleaner from the Caribbean to return home for a holiday, with a group of 230 students coming together to raise £1,500 for him.

Herman Gordon came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation and has been working at the university in Bristol for twelve years as a cleaner, gaining a reputation among students as a friendly face and a positive influence on campus.

It took just over five days for the students to contribute to a JustGiving page set up with the goal of sending Herman and his wife on holiday for a week in the summer.

SWNS

He cried tears of joy as he was given the news by a student, who handed Herman an envelope filled with cash and a letter from the campaign organisers telling him that he would be able to visit his family for the first time in four years.

"Dear Herman, on behalf of the students at Bristol, we would like to thank you for all the positive energy you have given to us throughout the years," read the letter.

"You have brightened many of our days and we want you to know that we love and appreciate you.

"We have come together to give you a special gift as our way of saying thank you. Have a lovely summer."

The JustGiving page was started anonymously, but Bristol student Facebook page Bristruths has been leading signups for the campaign and encouraging students to donate to the fund.

SWNS

"We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this incredible gift," wrote Bristruths.

"It is truly amazing what we can achieve when we come together. It is thanks to your generosity that we've been able to raise about £1,500 - meaning both Herman and his wife will be able to visit Jamaica for the first time in 4 years!"

The man who handed him the envelope, Hadi Al-Zubaidi, later told BBC Newsbeat that the campaign 'just went crazy'.

He said: "I myself was shocked that he was this famous.

"He deserved more than just conversations. He spends the whole time being nice to everybody, it's about time we were nice to him."

Topics: Viral, Students, Jamaica, Bristol, Community, UK

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]