It’s normally only when you are in crisis that you discover true friendship.

Admittedly, my electric wheelchair does attract people if its batteries are having a bad hair day.

The last two days have been such and one marvels at the kindness of the people in the Abbey, especially the young.

On Thursday night I was rescued by a burly man, who pushed me up the hill from Cobbins dentists to the first bus request stop.

From there I told him that I could creep home.

Fortunately, as I slowed down even further a white Corsa pulled up beside me and Rob and Ellie Silver offered to push me up to the alleyway near my home.

From there on it was down hill all the way.

The couple insisted on taking me to my doorstep.

Last night I was again stranded by Cobbins when a band of six 15-year-old school lads, who rap together as WHAM, approached me.

They offered and then pushed me around to Larsens social club.

All praise to their Epping-based school.

At Larsens I was ably assisted and my batteries recharged by Brad and by Shane, who is currently fundraising for little Lennon.

On Thursday there was another heart warming incident, when a young man stepped forward in a queue at Tescos and offered to pay for an elderly person’s shopping, when she discovered that her purse had been left at home.

Such is the nature of many people who live in the Abbey.

Vernon Gurtner, Mason Close, Waltham Abbey.