Like many local people who spent years down the mines, George Walker knows only too well what hard work is like.
Even though he worked at several different mines, including Snydale, Ackton Hall and Glasshoughton, it was always hard graft due to the conditions and long hours.
Having retired to his two-bedroom Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) home in Featherstone, George is taking things a lot easier – but he still appreciates hard work when he sees it – and that’s why he was taken aback by some outstanding service from the man who came to fix his kitchen door.
“I was mightily impressed,” recalls George, 74. “I rang WDH to tell them that the kitchen door wouldn’t shut and that the hinge had fallen off. Like most people I didn’t expect a response for quite a while.
“That’s why I was shocked when someone from WDH rang me the next morning at 8.30 am to ask if it was okay if he could come and fix the door. You don’t expect service like that these days.
“The chap arrived 20 minutes later and got on with it. Boy, was he efficient! He was very courteous and professional. Like I said, you don’t expect service like that at that time either.
“You wouldn’t see repairs companies out that early. It is certainly good to see people still working hard like that!”
Martin Wilson, WDH Repairs Manager says his team work hard to ensure that any repairs are looked at quickly and efficiently.
“During a recent Tenants’ Satisfaction Survey customer satisfaction with the overall WDH repair service rose from 87% to 92%," says Martin. “With the national average standing at 76%, it’s a great achievement and that’s down to WDH’s commitment to act quickly when tenants let us know something in their home needs repairs.
“The joiner who did the work on the kitchen door, Graham Walker, did a great job. I’m very proud of my whole team and their work ethic.
“There are many tenants with similar stories to Mr Walker. We aim to keep our people happy.”
If you require a repair to your WDH home phone OneCALL on 0845 8 507 507.