A WOMAN celebrating her 80th birthday in Christchurch was given a surprise deliver on her special day courtesy of a United Taxis driver.

Samantha Mann was due to surprise her mum, Margaret Fearnhead, on her landmark birthday at her home in Trafalgar Court in Nelson Drive on Wednesday October 7.

However, as she was awaiting her son’s Covid-19 test result, she was unable to deliver her gifts and birthday cake to her mother, so was forced to come up with an alternative plan.

Samantha said: “I called United Taxis of Christchurch and asked them for a taxi to deliver it for me at 9.30am.

“The lovely taxi driver came to the door to collect the presents and cake, and I explained that I could not visit, and it was her 80th birthday.”

On opening the door, Margaret was not only stunned to have her presents and cake hand delivered, but she was also serenaded by the taxi driver who sang her happy birthday from her doorstep.

Samantha said that her mother was “over the moon” to be greeted with a surprise on the morning of her birthday.

She added “She said how the nice man sang her happy birthday and made her day. She was so pleased.

“I did call the taxi company to say thank you but obviously they could only pass on my gratitude and said they would call him for me.”

Samantha is now trying to track down United Taxis driver who went out of his way to surprise her mother on her 80th birthday.

She added: “I only wish I had his name. I feel he deserves to be recognised for his kindness and for being such a lovely person.

“I would really like to say a special thank you to him for going out of his way to make my grandmother happy on her special day.

“It's incredibly kind of him and unexpected. What a truly lovely person.”