A MUM-OF-THREE from Flintshire has been hailed a local hero for supplying hot meals to pensioners while the county braves the cold snap.
Undeterred from the arctic conditions, Linda Murray brings stew, pie and casserole to Flintshire’s elderly residents, as part of her commitment to her catering business.
She has run Linda’s Meals on Wheels for eight years, delivering homecooked dinners to more than 30 homes in Buckley, Hawarden and Mancot.
Linda, from Ewloe, says calls to her kitchen have rocketed since temperatures dropped last week.
“You get the regular customers who I deliver to everyday and then you get the one’s who just call up and say, ‘Any chance of a meal today love?’
“It’s a family run business where everybody chips in and helps me,” said the 41-year-old. “I rent a kitchen in Buckley and make all the meals from scratch in the morning and then go delivering at lunchtime. We do two runs a day, one to Buckley and one to Hawarden and Mancot.”
Linda admits that her traditional recipes made from local ingredients are a popular choice among customers.
“You walk into somebodys home and they’re sat there with a knife and fork waiting for you,” she laughs. “I read them the menu for the next day and they choose what they would like to eat.”
Linda admits she has struggled with the treacherous road conditions in the past week.
“But I have a 4x4 which is excellent for deliveries, especially at this time of year,” she said.
She has made a commitment to her customers to deliver meals 365 days a year - including Christmas Day.
“For their Christmas dinner, I did them prawn cocktail to start followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings. And for dessert I did Christmas pudding with white sauce. It’s always a popular one.
“Working Christmas Day isn’t that bad. It’s just a couple of hours out of my day and then I get to spend the rest with my family.”
She added: “I’d like to say a special thanks to my mum, Marion, for all of her help and support. I could not have done it without her.”
Linda’s mother-in-law has praised the hard working chef for defeating all odds to deliver her cooking.
“She has managed to drive through all of the estates in these horrible conditions to deliver her meals,” said Eileen Scutt. “She is a friendly face to the people who need her most.”
If you would like to try Linda’s culinary delights, call her on 07743493923 or 01244 531789.