A ‘THOUGHFUL little chap’ for Comberbach smashed all previous records in his annual Easter eggs collection for families facing food poverty. 

Sydney Hornby, who’s just six, wrote to his head teacher at Comberbach Nursery and Primary asking if pupil’s could bring Easter eggs into school in return for a non-uniform day.  

His suggestion was met with great enthusiasm from staff and pupils, and the day was held on Friday, March 15, bagging him a whopping 178 chocolate eggs.

Not willing to stop there, he also asked family, friends, and fellow Comberbach residents if they would each buy an egg for his campaign.

Northwich Guardian: Six-year-old Sydney Hornby gets a real kick out of helping othersSix-year-old Sydney Hornby gets a real kick out of helping others (Image: Holly Martin)

With a generous boost from the village pub, the Spinner and Bergamot, Sydney managed to add another 192 eggs to his total, bumping it up to 370.

The eggs were donated to Mid Cheshire Foodbank in Winsford, which collected them from school on Monday, March 18.

Sydney’s mum, Clare Hornby, said her son is 'such a thoughtful little chap’, adding: “We’re just so proud of him. He loves to do things for other people. He's been doing this since 2020.

“We were talking about Easter eggs when he was only a toddler, and how some children’s mummies and daddies might not have enough pennies to buy them.

“Well, he thought it was just awful.

“It was led more by us to begin with, but as he’s got older and started to understand a bit more, he’s adamant he wants to do it himself.

“He’s broken all previous records this year. Normally, we run them to the foodbank in the car, but there just wasn’t the room this time. They had to send a van.

“We also had a very generous egg donation from the Spinner and Bergamot pub in Comberbach, which really helped bump up the numbers.”

Sydney wasn’t available to talk about his success thanks to a scheduled school trip to Chester Zoo, but Helen said his triumph has only made him all the more keen to help others.

She added: “For his next project, he wants to do physical challenge, and he’s decided to try his hand at raising cash.”

Catherine Lawton, project manager at Mid Cheshire Food Bank, said: “We were delighted to receive the donation from Sydney.

“His hard work ensures all households referred to us in a food crisis over the next few weeks will receive a chocolaty treat this Easter. 

“Thank you to Sydney, and to all those who donated to his collection drive. It’s a generous community effort to support those experiencing a difficult time this Easter.”

Comberbach Nursery and Primary School head teacher, Holly Martin, said: “Our families demonstrated two of the school values of care and responsibility by collecting 178 Easter eggs.

“These have been donated to Mid Cheshire Food Bank so that families in need can enjoy an Easter treat.

“Children wore their own clothes in exchange for an Easter egg donation.

“A huge thanks to our Year one pupils, Sydney Hornby, aged six, who planned the initiative.”