Little boy’s act of kindness sparks new trend in a South Downs town

Little Chester Fewtrell and his family are regular customers at Victoria’s Sponge in Steyning High Street - and as they were leaving on one recent visit Chester told cafe owner Victoria Nicks that he wanted to pay for the next person’s coffee.

“He had all this money with him in 2ps and 10ps. I asked him why he wanted to pay for someone else and he just said ‘It’s my good deed.’

Word of Chester’s act of kindness soon spread - and now more and more customers are ‘paying forward’ for other people’s hot drinks.

“I now have about 98 paid for,” said Victoria. “It’s such a lovely thing to do while we’re living in these awful times.”

Proud mum Melanie said: “It was a most lovely moment when Chester offered to pay for the next customer’s drink. A local author came in and he welled up, then Chester welled up and I welled up.”

She said both she and her husband Dave were ‘completely proud.’

Melanie explained that both Chester and his sister Olive, 11, had been carrying out acts of kindness since they were little. “Every year in the summer holidays I would get them to come up with five ideas each for acts of kindness and we put together a chart.”

The children also have a good behaviour chart for which they get rewards.

“They always choose to go to Victoria’s for cake and hot chocolate,” said Melanie.