Praise for Evri delivery driver hailed “genuinely the nicest bloke”.

A Glossop delivery driver has been praised by thousands of people after going the extra mile to surprise a local couple with a gift for their newborn baby. 

Mark Barlow, 64, who has worked as an Evri delivery driver for nine years, bought a present for Jonny Heneghan and his wife Mia after delivering parcels to their Shirebrook home throughout her pregnancy. 

The couple moved into their house in January, around the same time they discovered they were expecting a baby. Mark had regularly delivered their baby-related purchases and watched the family prepare for their new arrival. 

Following the birth of their baby boy, Mark dropped off the thoughtful gift the following morning. 

Jonny shared the story on Facebook to recognise Mark’s kindness, little expecting it to attract hundreds of comments and more than 13,000 likes from people keen to share their own positive experiences of the popular delivery driver. 

Jonny said: “Mark has certainly had his work cut out with deliveries to us off the back of a new house and new baby. For him to not only recognise our life situation but to remember and go out of his way to buy a present was extremely heart-warming. Such a kind gesture from someone who absolutely didn’t have to, but it meant the world to us. 

“I posted on Facebook to give Mark some recognition given the amount of bad press delivery drivers normally get, I never expected it to go on to get 100s of comments and over 13k likes from local people who have also had an equally positive experience with Mark.” 

Originally from Bolton, Mark moved to Glossop in 2001 and has spent the past six years delivering to Shirebrook, having previously covered Mossley for three years. 

He said buying gifts for families was not a one-off gesture, explaining that he had done something similar for another family the previous year. 

Mark said he had been overwhelmed by the response from customers when he briefly considered taking a break from the job earlier this year. “I decided to take a holiday and when I came back everybody was going mad, asking where I’d been and saying they didn’t want to lose me as their delivery driver” he said. 

Mark believes the strong relationships he has built with residents are a big part of what makes his work rewarding. “They’re a really good community” he said of Shirebrook. “People have helped me out as well. If I’ve made a mistake, they’ve been quick to help put things right rather than complain about it.” 

His willingness to help customers extends beyond the usual demands of delivering parcels. On one occasion, a Glossop woman was struggling to locate a wedding dress she had sold to someone in Kent. The parcel was marked as having been delivered to a newsagent, but the recipient had visited the shop several times and been told it was missing. 

Mark offered to investigate and discovered that the parcel was still at the shop. The label had fallen off the large brown box, meaning staff had no way of identifying its contents. The item was eventually found, much to the seller’s relief. 

Mark is also well known among the four-legged residents on his route, carrying dog biscuits for the many pets he encounters. “There are loads of dogs around Shirebrook, and they go mad when I turn up. If I forget their biscuits, they’re not happy!” he said. 

He also values the conversations he shares with residents, particularly those who may be lonely or spend much of their time at home. “I’ve always got time for a chat, and it’s amazing how much difference five minutes of conversation can make to someone’s day” he said. 

Despite the widespread praise he has received, Mark remains modest about the attention, insisting that he simply tries to help people wherever he can. He was also keen to acknowledge the support he receives from his managers and fellow delivery drivers in Glossop, saying they regularly help one another out. 

The response to Jonny’s Facebook post has given residents the chance to share their own experiences of Mark’s friendly and reliable service. 

One commenter described him as “absolutely the best delivery driver ever”, adding that he “really does go above and beyond”. 

Another wrote: “Every Evri driver should spend a day with Mark, see how to do the job properly.” Others praised his thoughtfulness, with one saying the story “restores your faith in people”. 

One resident recalled how Mark had tracked them down after they moved house and an important parcel was accidentally delivered to their old address, describing him as “genuinely the nicest bloke”. 

Another simply summed up the mood, writing: “Mark is a star!” 

For Mark, the baby gift was a small gesture. But the response from the community shows how a little kindness, backed by a genuine willingness to go the extra mile, can truly make a lasting impression.