Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years

334 points dfmz

Now that’s what I’d call a proper Christmas story!

What Rob and Dianne did goes far, far beyond the call of duty, and they had a very rewarding life for it, as did Ronnie. It’s truly a beautiful, heartwarming story.

Thanks for sharing, OP. Merry Christmas, everyone!

parent

90 points B0ssc0

Merry Christmas to you, too. That story is unforgettable. The thought of him standing on the doorstep with his possessions in a bag, and a frozen chicken :’(

parent root
150 points elgigantedelsur

That’s a fucking awesome story. Legit brought a tear to my eye. Good on them

parent

34 points B0ssc0

Same. What a life.

parent root

2 points Realistic_Way_4565

And he had a gambling problem for 20 years! what an amazing trio! I can’t believe we are making remakes and sequels of stupid movies when this story is golden..💛

parent root

1 points B0ssc0

Very true.

parent root

14 points highlandcow75

I'm a bubbling wreck right now.

parent root
125 points ChellHole

"Have I done a bad thing?"

No, mate. You did nothing wrong. You reminded us that we need to do better.

parent

24 points B0ssc0

Well put.

parent root

3 points Electrical-Act-7170

Just so.

parent root
62 points Aiden29

What a wonderful story. Just goes to show that sometimes people just need others to have faith in them and give them a chance to show who they truly are in the right environment and when supported

parent
53 points janglinjosh

I want this as a film, or a musical, or a play, or just anything. I am prepared for the emotional devastation.

parent

8 points LanceShiro

Rob already published a book about it. It's called A Knock At the Door. I have it on Kindle and it's an amazing read.

parent root

9 points lights_up_

I would love to see this, what a fantastic story

parent root
49 points bumblestum1960

This is the first thing I’ve read on Christmas morning, maybe there is some hope for us all. Merry Christmas everybody.

parent

5 points B0ssc0

I hope you’ve had a happy and peaceful day.

parent root

3 points laurenk

I hope you pass on an act of kindness today, I will too 🥹

parent root
126 points wildtalon

Great read! Such kindness all around

parent

26 points unsolicited_flattery

It's nice to see! Merry Christmas to you as well, if you celebrate Reddit stranger. And Happy holidays either way. I hope you take good care and stay well

parent root

8 points Dramatic_Buddy4732

Have a lovely day!

parent root

6 points D0D

Yeah, don't be afraid to do kind things! It's always worth it! ❤

parent root
29 points Kopertin

Such a heart warming story, thank you.

parent

2 points B0ssc0

Thanks.

parent root

2 points salizarn

It’s heart “warming”

parent root

20 points AlephBaker

Let the worms into your heart, join us.

parent root

6 points Kopertin

Fixed, thanks.

parent root
22 points J_Slatts

If more people were like this, the world would be a much nicer place to be in.

parent
22 points Dr_Schitt

I read this before and it's a truly beautiful story of human love and compassion, if done right it would be an excellent story to tell on the big screen.

parent
23 points Birdman_of_Upminster

What an epic act of humanity. The world would be crap without people like this.

parent

6 points B0ssc0

I read it twice. Very uplifting.

parent root
19 points moukiez

This was so sweet. A reminder to strive to be like Ronnie Lockwood, as well as his two firm friends. Rest in peace, Ronnie.

parent
30 points Flaky-Walrus7244

I'm glad the little bits to show him as being less perfect and more human. They mention how frustrating he was. They mention a 20 year gambling addiction. These things make him into a more rounded, flawed person.

parent

6 points Wonderboyjr

Yes, no one is perfect. But he will, obviously, be remembered so very fondly for the love he gave and shared.

parent root
12 points holi_cannelloni

Bawling my eyes out. Thanks for sharing :’)

parent

2 points B0ssc0

Thanks to you too.

parent root
11 points WorldBiker

Thanks for posting this. It gave me a little more hope.

parent

4 points B0ssc0

There are some amazing and wonderful people in the world. Gives hope to the rest of us, they're our saving grace.

parent root
8 points RollinToast

You just made a grown man cry on Christmas morning while he was sitting in the shitter. I hope your happy.

parent

3 points B0ssc0

Those people’s mutual kindness really touched me as well.

parent root
7 points rossdog82

I can’t believe I haven’t read about this before. Brilliant. Good to know there are people like this in the world.

parent
6 points WitAndSavvy

The difference community can make. What a lovely story!

parent
7 points tillybowman

gosh these people are awesome.

parent
8 points Critical_Ad_9888

Well, that was so nice 😭😭😭

parent

4 points B0ssc0

Such good people. And the kids knew no life when he wasn’t there! So moving. I can’t get over the image of him on the doorstep, with all he owned and a frozen chicken. And his permanent worry, ‘Did I do something wrong?’

parent root

3 points Critical_Ad_9888

I knoooow!!! It was also so nice to imagine and know that he was surrounded with a love he deserved till the end. Feels like he was really meant to stay with them 🥹🥺 Like some comments said, I woul watch this 💯 if it was adapted into a movie!!

parent root
12 points heartwarriordad

The story had an extra byline at the end: "Additional reporting by Greg Davies." I wonder if that's referring to Greg Davies, the Welsh comedian...wonder if he shared the story with the BBC.

parent

5 points kleinePfoten

I had the SAME thought when I read that! 😂

parent root
6 points TheHappyCamper1979

I needed to read this today .

parent

2 points B0ssc0

Me too.

parent root
5 points Fizeau57_24

"And I say 'oh that's my solicitor'." Ronnie had a hell of a sense of humor. And decent neighbours, imho.
🎄💝🫂

parent

2 points B0ssc0

And they understood him, they knew they were the people he’d never had waiting at the school gate for him :’(

parent root

2 points Fizeau57_24

I like that story very much. There is no blood ties between them, they don’t work together, and it could take place anywhere else.

parent root
5 points YoTonoHo

Wow…. That was such a beautiful, touching, and inspiring story. What an awesome family and Robbie is literally such a wonderful person, I wish I could’ve had the pleasure to know him!

parent
6 points max10192

Man, this made me cry. These unseen acts of tremendous kindness are what its all about.

parent
10 points G_rodriguez69

I’m not crying you’re crying

parent
4 points nWo_Spike

What a wonderful story

parent
3 points executingsalesdaily

This should be a Christmas movie. Wow. Wonderful people.

parent
4 points participationmedals

Wow. I should volunteer or something.

parent
4 points BeautyAndTheDekes

Sat here having shed a tear at that! I love hearing all these little stories about unconventional family units that just work and it’s a lovely reminder that we all have the ability to choose our own extended family.

I think it’s an important reminder as well, particularly poignant in these current times, to never write off someone. Here’s a man who was completely written off and forgotten about as a child but with support from his firm friends became a clearly positive member of society. That line at the end of how the homeless man ended up putting a roof over everyone’s heads was lovely.

I did need this reminder too. Sometimes I find it all too easy to lose faith in humanity when you hear about all the negative things happening and the goings on, but here’s Rob, Dianne and Ronnie as a little reminder not to lose hope.

parent
3 points gingerflakes

Well now I’m crying. What else is new. I guess this is at least crying over something beautiful

parent
3 points Beaglester

What fantastic and selfless people. ❤️

parent
3 points thepetoctopus

Welp. Christmas is literally my least favorite day of the year but this made me cry happy tears. Such a beautiful story.

parent
3 points CareerLegitimate7662

Incredible what a kind family

parent
3 points Optimixto

That was beautiful. The heart of those 3. No two families are the same, and this shows it. Rest in peace, king.

parent
3 points LadyOnogaro

What an amazing story of kindness!

parent
3 points ItsStaaaaaaaaang

What a lovely story. Ty for sharing.

Btw, is the "Greg Davies" credited in the article for additional reporting that Greg Davies?

parent

2 points B0ssc0

Idk

parent root
2 points gumbys_flying_circus

I’m not crying, it’s just onions.

parent
2 points 0914566079

I actually cried reading this.

parent

1 points B0ssc0

Right, it’s stayed with me.

parent root

2 points 0914566079

It resonated very strongly with me, especially the Catch -22 part, because I know a person who is officially stateless and hence he's in a similar quandary.

parent root

1 points B0ssc0

Unimaginable for so many of us.

parent root
2 points AlbaMcAlba

My eyes are wet. Beautiful story.

parent
2 points Certain_Car_9984

Damn ninjas cutting onions

parent
1 points morganselah

I can't read as I hit a paywall.

parent

2 points B0ssc0

BBC don’t charge, it’s public service media.

parent root

3 points EnzoFrancescoli

It does from abroad. gotta use a UK based VPN

parent root

2 points B0ssc0

I’m abroad, on the other side of the world.

parent root

1 points EnzoFrancescoli

Depends on the country .

parent root