The family of a Fife chef who was left £4,000 out of pocket after his bosses at the Strathearn Hotel closed the premises suddenly have been “touched beyond words” by kind gestures of Courier readers.
Michael Cummins, 25, who worked as head chef at the now defunct hotel which closed on Sunday May 17, was never paid a full wage.
Instead he was given “occasional handouts” by bosses Stephen Stewart and Tina Syme and was never paid more than £100 per week.
He said he “had no choice” but to accept the situation as he had his wife Sam and four children to support including eight-month-old Marcus who attends Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh regularly for a bowel condition.
After The Courier reported that Michael was urgently seeking work to support his family, the young dad was inundated by messages of support from friends, family and even strangers.
Wife Sam said: “One man who we had never met before got in touch to ask if he could pay for us to go on a family day out and gave us £100 to take the children to Dynamic Earth.
“We all had an amazing day and words can’t express how grateful we are to him.”
Michael was also contacted by the director of Majestic Inns Ltd, David Kennedy, about a possible job as head chef at The Foxton Bar and Grill in Glenrothes.
Mr Kennedy said he was “keen” to offer Michael the chance to apply for the role after reading of his plight in The Courier
Wife Sam, who suffers from alopecia, said: “The kindness and generosity of people has touched us so much. We just can’t believe how nice people can be.
“After Michael was treated so badly at the Strathearn this has really restored our faith in humanity and is proof there are good people out there and we would like to thank The Courier too for all their help.”
Michael said: “Hopefully I will work soon. I’ve worked as a chef for seven years and previously worked at the Thistle Hotel at Aberdeen Airport as well as various other establishments in Edinburgh and Fife so I have a fair bit of experience.”