AS soon as one Wombwell-based lorry driver returns home for the weekend he instantly gets to work supporting the community.
Eddie Harper spends his weeks travelling around the country delivering packages and is only at home for the weekends.
However, as soon as the 64-year-old steps through the door, his free time is devoted to the local community, where he helps build up local businesses, goes out litter-picking on his own and recently saved a war memorial from the old Nuwell shopping centre which is now in the Reform Club.
His son, 27-year-old Peter Harper, told the Chronicle: “He literally finishes work around 3 o’clock on a Friday and from that time till Sunday evening when he leaves, he’s volunteering.
“He creates weekly videos for local businesses, encouraging people to shop locally and he regularly participates in litter picks and street cleaning around Wombwell.
“Anything to do with Wombwell he gets involved with.
“Even when he’s at work he’ll be posting every single day on the Wombwell Wise Facebook group and does daily words of love and inspiration to keep everyone happy.
“He gets a lot of good feedback.”
While Eddie doesn’t do this for recognition, and is simply trying to do what he can for the community, his work has turned him into a bit of a local celebrity.
“I’ll go for drinks with him at the weekend and he will always get stopped by people,” Peter added.
“They always want to chat with him and will ask for pictures.
“He’s just Eddie from Wombwell, but it’s now like he’s a celebrity.”
For his unwavering dedication to the community of Wombwell, Eddie has been nominated for the Love Where You Live award at this year’s Proud of Barnsley.
Eddie said: “It all started about two years ago when I became an admin for the Wombwell Wise page.
“Each post is checked and I was seeing posts about different groups needing volunteers.
“So I started going out and doing videos for them to raise awareness and I started getting involved myself.”
In addition to this, Eddie got himself involved with St Mary’s Church, where he helps host Remembrance ceremonies, utilising his history in the military.
“Everybody knows me in Wombwell.
“Lots of people call me Mr Wombwell, some even call me the Mayor of Wombwell.
“It’s a great place - I moved here in 1987 and fell in love with the place and the people.
“People here will always speak to you, even if it’s just to tell you to get lost.
“I’d love to get involved more but I’m away so much I don’t have the time.
“When my son told me about this nomination it brought a tear to my eye.
“He said I deserve it for all I do for Wombwell, but it’s like a hobby for me - just a hobby that does good for the community.
“Wombwell deserves it, the people here are amazing.”
