STAFF LEFT STARRY-EYED BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF TV BUTCHER ASHLEY PEACOCK AND STAND-IN SOAP GRANDEE FROM DRAMA'S MOST FAMOUS COBBLES

D & R MEATS SERVES UP SURPRISE FOR 'FANTASTIC' FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS AT THE GEORGE ELIOT

ATHERSTONE frontline health worker Dawn Downes believes the world's longest-running TV soap and the town's main hospital have a lot in common.

Coronation Street and the George Eliot are at the "heart of everything", according to the 59-year-old operating department practitioner.

They both share a common history of everyday life with the characters from the famous cobbles first stepping into our living rooms 60 years ago while the hospital was born in 1948, the year the UK gave birth to the National Health Service – helped into existence by donations from "down-to-earth" dedicated local fundraisers.

"I'm so proud of what has been achieved at the George Eliot," added the hospital worker.

So it was fitting that on the day the tenth, and last, #ClapForCarers was observed, that the two worlds should collide in the hospital car park.

And it wasn't so much Corrie Street but Coronation Meat as Dawn, along with the rest of the NHS workers at the George Eliot, came face to face with one of the most famous butchers in TV soap history.

She was temporarily lost in a make-believe world as she asked the ever youthful Ashley Peacock for some 'Coronation Chicken'.

When reality dawned, she had reached the head of the queue for the weekly treat provided by North Warwickshire family business D & R Meats which exclusively serves staff at the hospital on Thursdays.

Joint boss David Davis, who has run a mobile meat market operation from its Old Arley base with wife Mandy for 33 years, thought it would be great to bring a TV star as a thank-you to the staff for their "fantastic work" through the Covid-19 pandemic.

And to add a little fun to the occasion, he temporarily posed as Fred Elliott, the screen father of actor Steven Arnold's character Ashley on the ITV drama.

Both characters were 'killed off' years ago in the series – the repetitive Fred Elliott, played by John Savident, died of a stroke in 2006 and Ashley was written out in a dramatic tram crash to coincide with the soap's 50th anniversary in 2010.

But for one day at least Ashley Peacock – in the flesh – and Fred's stand-in – alias Oldbury butcher David Davis – entertained the staff as they served.

Mrs Davis explained that D & R Meats do use the former Corrie actor Steven Arnold and current star Kirk Sutherland, played by Andrew Whyment, for promotional work.

Due to production commitments cheeky-chappy Kirk, whose character last week celebrated 20 years in the soap, wasn't able to attend but sent a video message praising the "great job" done by the George Eliot staff in the fight against coronavirus.

D & R Meats is well known in the area – on Nuneaton and Bedworth markets as well as pitches at The Long Shoot and Sunnyside Inn, both in Nuneaton, the Chequers at Burbage, and Rushden in Northamptonshire.

The butcher even travels to Blackpool once a week to sell the choice meat off the side of the wagon.

Dawn, who is also an Atherstone town and borough councillor, said D & R Meats really does look after the hospital and its employees.

To see a clip of Ashley in action, click here.