TV star Jeremy Clarkson has come to the rescue of a five-year-old boy who had the contents of his honesty stall stolen by thieves by offering to replace “all that was lost.”
The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host urged Harry Clare’s family to get in touch with him before quipping that the crooks should be “fed into a combine.”
He was replying to an article about the theft after the youngster’s plight touched the hearts of the nation following the callous theft on Tuesday (14/7).
Little Harry was left in tears after having £40 worth of stock swiped from the table top of the stall he runs at his parents’ glamping site in Malvern, Worcs.
The Grand Tour presenter wrote on Twitter: “I will make good all that was lost.
“Please get in touch. And then let’s feed the thieves into a combine.”
Harry told how he was left devastated when the heartless thieves pinched the entire contents of his honesty box stall leaving behind just his table and sign.
The schoolboy sells eggs and goats milk as well as soap and lip balm from the shop based at the Rosebud Meadow glamping site.
He said: “I lost my shop and feel really sad. I liked making people happy.
“I still want to be a shopkeeper because I want to sell my mummy’s soap. I’m going to carry on with it.”
Well-wishers from around the globe have since offered cash and donations to get Harry back on his feet after an auctioneer shared the story online.
Mum Rosie Clare, 35, said members of the public had offered to replace Harry’s lost stock and the family had received support from as far away as New York.
She added: “The shop is his pride and joy. He is really proud of it. He still wants to be a shopkeeper.
“In the morning he was very upset. There were lots of tears.
“He had never lost anything from there before and didn’t understand why somebody would do that to him.
“I have been completely overwhelmed by the response. I can’t keep up with all the emails and Facebook messages.
“It has absolutely blown me away.
“It is very sad and mean but I have been overwhelmed by people’s kindness.
“I’ve read a few of the messages to Harry to show him there are still lots of good people out there.”
Harry’s story went viral after local auctioneer Philip Serrell posted an image of Harry on Twitter.
He wrote: “This is Harry – he is 5 and runs a little honesty shop near to my Saleroom.
“Someone has stolen his money and his stock.
“They will probably be too ashamed to return either but if they get to read this I hope it costs them a few nights sleep.”
Harry’s mum Rosie said she was delighted at Jeremy Clarkson’s offer to pay for her son’s stolen produce and encouraged him to donate to their chosen charity.
She added: “All I can say is wow. The fact Jeremy Clarkson knows about Harry and his shop is brilliant.
“Putting them in a combine is a bit extreme however, I don’t think we’d go that far.
“It is wonderful that he has thought of Harry and his shop.
“Harry is receiving so much positivity and we haven’t been able to keep up with it all.
“We have actually been in contact with Acorns Children’s Hospice to set up a page for people who want to donate to Harry.
“So maybe Mr Clarkson could donate to that as we’re able to replace the stolen items ourselves.
“It is a really worthwhile charity that does amazing work.
“I take our miniature horse Moo Moo, who is a therapy pony, into the hospice free of charge to be with the children.
“We see the really poorly children with the horse.
“They are so small, only 26 inches tall, they can go in and go up to the bedside of children who are unable to go outside.
“Harry knows the children go into the hospice and won’t be coming out.
“He has been there to play with the children with toys and with Moo Moo.”
Rosie also updated Harry’s new fans on Facebook after being inundated with messages of support.
She wrote: “Wow – what can we say?
“Most of you will probably have seen via the news, social media etc what happened to my son, Harry, a couple of days ago.
“It’s gone a little crazy and we have been overwhelmed with all the support that he has received and the kind wishes.
“We have been contacted by people who wish to donate to his cause.
“This has never been about the financial impact of what happened, but we could not understand why someone would want to leave him so heartbroken.
“We have set up a page for people to donate – Harry would like all his donations to go to Acorns Children’s Hospice which many of you know from our previous posts is a fantastic place where we take our famous MooMoo the therapy pony.
“In Harry’s words, ‘Mummy I would like to make other children happy again too, like these kind people have done for me.’”
