Students raise £1500 to send "jolliest" cleaner to Jamaica

June 28, 2018 10:32 AM

Students raise money to send cleaner and his wife to Jamaica to visit family. "He is the epitome of happiness," one student said. The gift included a note saying, "You have brightened many of our days and we want you to know that we love and appreciate you." Herman has worked at Bristol University as part of the cleaning staff for 12 years. In terms of the positivity that so many students praise him for, Herman told Newsbeat it's important to keep away "negative vibes...I know that these students are studying. You don't want any negative vibes around them."
posted by stillmoving (8 comments total)

Knew I shoulda brought my handkerchief today. Thanks alot.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:25 AM on June 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Thanks stillmoving, this is a thing of beauty.
posted by ouke at 11:54 AM on June 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Wonderful story that I've now shared with multiple friends and family. I need these reminders that yes, we can be kind and thoughtful to each other.
posted by so much modern time at 2:32 PM on June 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Up with this sort of thing!
posted by threetwentytwo at 2:54 PM on June 28, 2018 [5 favorites]

Or, you know, the college could just pay their staff a living wage.

Or stop forcing their staff to take real pay cuts every year.

Or not take away their staff's safe pensions and replacing them with entirely dodgy schemes.

Good on the students for not following the example of their teachers.
posted by happyinmotion at 4:30 PM on June 28, 2018 [11 favorites]

Is anyone else a little bothered by how much they emphasize his demeanor?

Cleaners should not be judged on how jolly they are. Intentionally or not, these students have just bought themselves a lot of emotional labor.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 8:07 PM on June 28, 2018 [3 favorites]

I wasn't really bothered by the "jolly" mention as it seemed both the students and Herman genuinely, mutually enjoyed their chats and company.
posted by stillmoving at 11:16 PM on June 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Sweet story, I hope he has a lot of fun on his trip.
posted by like_neon at 1:44 AM on June 29, 2018 [1 favorite]