Cromarty businesses were amazed to find themselves ‘love-bombed’ with floral tributes and expressions of thanks from their community for continuing to serve them during the current crisis.
Staff at the bakery, post office, stores, cheese shop, and a café and restaurant in the Black Isle village found trays of flowers, decorations and notes of thanks on their doorsteps when they went to work on Easter Monday.
Young mum Ciara Newman, on furlough from her job in the Cromarty Brewery, secretly organised the tributes.
She said she had been affected by reports of tension in Cromarty Stores, with social distancing restrictions causing a backlash from a few customers.
She said: “When I heard Marcel and Kitty at Cromarty Stores nearly closed because of it, I wanted to do something to show the appreciation of the vast majority.”
Using social media, Ciara asked her network to drop a posy of flowers at the shops to show how much the efforts of all are treasured.
She said: “My mum and I managed to gather 30 jars and paint them, and we started dropping the flowers off on Sunday afternoon.
“The next thing I knew there were more and more people doing it, taping notes to the doors, chalking good wishes on the pavements, putting up crocheted bunting.
“Around thirty households took part.”
Marcel Gommers said he had been overwhelmed by the gesture.
He said: “I still can’t find the words. I feel very emotional.”
Mr Gommers said things had reached a low point when the shop had to implement the government social distancing regulations and ask customers to observe them.
He said: “It got worse in the two days of good weather and there was tension in the shop.
“We thought that if it carried on and one of us became ill we would struggle to carry on.
“It worried us so we discussed it with the community council and the Cromarty Cares group and put in measures like screens. Thankfully the atmosphere changed for the better.
“The flowers a week later made us so proud to live in Cromarty.”
Jon Palmer and his wife live above their business, the Cheese House.
He said: “When we saw the long procession of people coming with tributes, we felt very emotional.
“We’re not essential like the other shops but we’re proud to be able to stay open and it felt nice to be included.”
Donna and Dave Henderson from Cromarty Bakery saw the tributes as they arrived to begin their nightshift.
Bakery worker Nora Watson said: “They couldn’t believe it. They said it was such a lovely surprise and they appreciated it.”
Tributes were also paid to Sutor Creek cafe and the Cromarty Arms inn for the delivery services they have instigated during the crisis.
