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A charity fundraiser laid low with Covid-19 has told how a diet of Marmite on toast helped him recover.
Dale Howting, 86, who was known as Sittingbourne’s Whistling Postman when he worked for the Royal Mail, has been missing from the High Street where he normally sits on his push bike collecting cash for charity.
He admitted: “I went down with coronavirus over Christmas and the new year and spent two weeks in bed.
“I lost my taste and couldn’t stop sneezing. Even when my son brought me an orange I couldn’t eat it. It felt like eating old rope.
“At one stage my friend had to call the NHS 111 number because I had such a high temperature and I felt lousy. But they ended up going to her house by mistake.
“The paramedics finally turned up at my house at midnight when I was in my dressing gown. They checked me over and took blood samples. They said there was nothing wrong with my heart or breathing but they were concerned I hadn’t eaten for six days and suggested I go to hospital. But I didn’t want to do that.
“They told me I had to eat so the next morning I tried some Marmite on toast. The Marmite was so strong I could taste it and suddenly felt hungry again. Up to then I had only been drinking water. The Marmite brought my taste buds back to life. I think it helped pull me round.”
He added: “I’m just getting back on my feet again. I’ve lost a bit of weight but I’m trying to put it back on. My mother always swore by Marmite. During the war when we didn’t have gravy she’d add Marmite to the dripping. It was lovely.”
Because of the lockdown he hasn’t been able to collect money in Roman Square or the Homebase DIY store but during sunny days he can be found on his bike in the front garden of his home in Goodnestone Road.
He said: “People have been wonderful. A lot of people from when I worked as a ‘postie’ seem to find me and to put something in my collecting box. I am hoping to return to the High Street at the end of the month. I will stay in a sheltered spot by the Bull pub with my bike and two umbrellas to protect me from people. But I will still be able to have a little chat. I like sharing jokes with people, that’s clean jokes.”
He has been collecting for charity since 1977 and had been hoping to reach a grand total of £300,000 last year but Covid put paid to his plans. He till has £3,500 to go.
He vowed: “I’m determined to reach it this year.”
Dale originally shot to “stardom” when he was threatened with disciplinary action over his whistling while delivering letters. There was a public outcry and he ended up being featured on Esther Rantzen’s That’s Life BBC TV programme. He went on to make a guest appearance on Surprise, Surprise with Cilla Black and also met celebrities like Barbara Windsor at various awards ceremonies.
He was given the British Empire Medal by The Queen for his charity work in 1999. On average he collects £7,000 a year for 29 good causes around Swale like Demelza Hospice Care for Children, the Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance, Dementia UK and Age UK.
He was also nominated for a Pride of Britain award.
Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne
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