Local Hero Bob Barrett to Open Wilko in Broadway
Beef Kitchen founder chosen by store for dedication to veterans
Fulham Broadway's newest store, Wilko has chosen local hero Bob Barrett as the guest of honour, helping to cut the ceremonial ribbon when the store opens on Thursday December 12.
Bob Barrett, who will join H & F Mayor, Councillor Frances Stainton, in cutting the ribbon at 9am, was named Wilko’s local community hero after being nominated by Mr Rick Brunwin OBE, who told the store about Bob’s remarkable dedication to veterans living in the Fulham community and his overwhelming, kind-hearted spirit.
In the past, Bob had received significant support from the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation (Stoll), the well known local charity offering rehabilitative support to ex-service men and women.
To pay back the foundation, Bob set up The Beef Kitchen, a food trailer which is a familiar site on Fulham Road, at the entrance to the Oswald Stoll Foundation, which provides work experience and training for veterans living at Stoll.
Over the last five years and under Bob’s enthusiastic and innovative supervision, The Beef Kitchen has helped over 25 veterans into employment and at the same time provided countless lunches and dinners, including Christmas Day dinner.
After the ribbon cutting, Bob will be presented with a £250 donation towards his charity of choice, Stoll, and a £250 Wilko gift card to spend at the new store.
To celebrate the new store opening, there will be a range of festive activities available for all shoppers on opening day. The London Oratory School Choir will perform in the retail centre, free roasted chestnuts will be handed out to Wilko customers and there will be a Wilko Wheel of Fortune giving shoppers the chance to win an array of Christmas gifts.
Store manager, Harlen Holding says: We are so proud to be able to welcome Bob as guest of honour to the store opening, he has been extremely generous towards the local community and we want to show our appreciation.Wilko is committed to valuing local community projects and we’re so happy to be supporting Bob’s chosen charity and The Beef Kitchen, as such an important social enterprise in the Fulham community."
The new store says it will offer shoppers in Fulham a huge selection of everyday items, such as health & beauty items, gardening equipment, cleaning products, homewares and seasonal essentials.
The celebrations will continue on Saturday December 21 when a face painter will be in store between 10am and 4pm to transform children into a variety of Christmassy characters, along with two balloon modelling elves who will be spreading Christmas cheer throughout the day. Shoppers will also be able to take part in a fun Christmas lucky dip and fill themselves with free mince pies, which will be handed out to customers throughout the day.
