Sainsbury’s recognises Norwood resident for 40 years service

A Jewish man with learning difficulties and autism was given a special presentation by Sainsbury’s this week, in recognition of his 40 years’ service.

Jonathan Black, 58, who has lived in Norwood homes for most of that time, has collected trolleys and baskets at the Sainsbury’s in Muswell Hill since 1980, when he joined at the age of 18.

Covid-19 restrictions meant that the award ceremony on Friday was much reduced in scale from that the supermarket threw to mark Jonathan’s 25 years’ service, but it was meaningful nonetheless and left proud mum Audrey beaming.

“He’s had several home moves and now lives in East Barnet, so the commute is a long and complicated one, but he still goes to work every day without fail,” she said. “He is always on time, hardly ever absent and worked all through lockdown.”

An avid collector of DVDs and CDs, Jonathan is a fan of ‘Carry On’ films and ‘60s music, who enjoys cycling and walking in Oakhill Park with a volunteer.

“He’s very conscientious, hard-working and loyal to Sainsbury’s,” said Audrey. “When he left school, his headmaster said he would never be socially accepted and would never get a job. Well, Jonathan proved him wrong then, and 40 years on he is still proving him wrong. I’m very, very proud of him.”