When you look inside a plant pot, usually it’s a pair of keys that you find.
But when a group of third-year students did just that outside Bella Italia, it was a rather peculiar discovery that was made.
Computer science undergraduate Chris King was waiting for his four friends outside the restaurant on Low Petersgate after finishing a final year ‘house meal’ celebration when he noticed a ‘golden envelope’ sitting inside one of the front plant pots.
Pointing it out to his friends, Chris decided to open it and see what was inside.
To the group’s amazement, the envelope contained £20 in cash – and a sweet letter from an old local resident.
One of the group, English student Hannah Brooks, told Vision: “Personally I wasn’t sure what it was and whether we should open it, but the others were all interested to see what it was.
“When we realised what it was we were surprised mainly, we thought it would be a scam so the fact that it wasn’t brought a smile to our faces!! It’s a really sweet and lovely thing to do and we were all just really happy!”
The cash and letter were left by Stewie Arnold, an 85-year-old local resident and writer.
The letter said: “You have indeed found an amount of genuine money in this envelope, if you found it, then it is yours, no one else’s, it’s completely yours and it is for you to do with as you wish.
“My name is Stewie Arnold. I am 85 years old and a resident of the beautiful city of York. In all my years, I have learnt that happiness is hard to come by for many people, but as a general rule, kindness usually equals happiness.”
It continued: “I am also going to be giving away a very large sum on the 1st December 2014, just before Christmas, somewhere in York.
“My wife Doris certainly wouldn’t allow it, but I won’t tell her if you won’t!”
Miss Brooks said that the group had decided to split the money evenly and to donate it to charity. She plans to give her £4 to the RSPCA.
But it’s not the only envelope that Mr Arnold has left in the city.
Over a dozen so-called ‘golden envelopes’ have been dispatched across the area – and some cashing in on the 85-year-old’s generosity have decided to give the money away too.
One said on the ‘Stewie Arnold’ Facebook page: “Thanks Stewie we found one of your envelopes and bought some food for the homeless people around york! Woooooo!!!”
And another added: “Thank you very much! A brilliant surprise that definitely put a smile on our faces watch this space for our act of kindness!”
The dropping began just a few days ago after the first discovery was made on Tuesday.
Not everyone has been so fortune as to locate a ‘golden envelope’ though.
This girl, standing at a cash machine at a branch of Halifax on Parliament Street, seems completely unaware of the fact she is just centimetres away from getting free what she might be dispensing.
Oh well.
You can join the hunt at Stewie Arnold’s Facebook page by clicking here – just don’t tell Doris!