The moment when eight-year-old Tallulah surprised her local deaf delivery driver by greeting him in sign language has gone viral online.
Tallulah and Tim’s friendship is one of the most heartwarming things to come out of lockdown and in a video shared to social media by her proud mother, we are lucky enough to see this unlikely bond being formed.
Proud mother Amy Roberts, from Ashton-under-Lyne, captured the moment her eight-year-old daughter Tallulah stood near the garden gates and greeted Hermes delivery driver Tim Joseph with the words “have a good day” in sign language (BSL).
Mr Joesph, who had been regularly delivering parcels on the street multiple times a week during lockdown, is seen understandably surprised in the video and smiles back at Tallulah before giving her a thumbs up.
In the video posted on Twitter, Amy Roberts said: This is our Hermes delivery man, we see him 1 or 2 times a week [and at the] start of lockdown, Tallulah drew him a [thank you rainbow].”
ADVERTISEMENT
“He still has it proudly on show in his van [and] they have built up quite a friendship over these last few weeks”.
This is our @Hermesparcels delivery man, we see him 1 or 2 times a week, start of lockdown Tallulah drew him a #thankyou 🌈, he still has it proudly on show in his van, they have built up quite a friendship over these last few weeks @ststephensaud#proudmumpic.twitter.com/JELmaibyIM
The video has generated widespread support online, not just from the local community here in Greater Manchester, but right across the UK.
ADVERTISEMENT
It has gone on to amass well over 7.6K retweets, 49K likes, 760K views and hundreds of comments heaping richly deserved praise on Tallulah for her efforts to make her delivery driver’s day and on Mr Joesph for his continued hard work at a time when the world needs it most.
You are a very special and beautiful little girl Tallulah 🥰 he is the best delivery driver we have round here! He’s always so pleased/happy when we sign hello and thank you to him #proudfriends#bekind
Awwww Tallulah! This is beautiful… we are all so very proud of you! 🌈👏🏼 My delivery driver is sick of the sight of me… and the pug who escapes every time! 🤣🤣🤣 x
Yeah he is, always smiling and friendly, they always have their little sign language conversations, so cute. Tallulah’s always asking me…. have you bought anything mum? Is MY friend coming today?? 😂😂😂
Yes, the parcel man is deaf, Tallulah isn’t but has learned some signing at school. They both look out for each other even if he’s not delivering to her house 💖💙
Hermes UK also replied expressing intent to reach out to Mr Joesph to “get him the praise he deserves”.
Speaking to BBC North West about his new-found friendship, Mr Joesph said: “Tallulah realised I was deaf and then one day she surprised me when she signed to me ‘have a good day”.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I think she learnt sign language at school.”
“I was vey happy and I then showed Tallulah how to sign, ”good morning, have a good day” and then she signed it perfectly and it made my day”.
Mr Joesph is said to be “overwhelmed” with all the positive comments he has received.
Tallulah & Tim just had their Tuesday catch up, 👍🏼💗💙 like us, Tim is overwhelmed with everyones lovely comments and interest. He signed to us that he cried with joy. So #thankyou in a world where you can be anything.. #bemoretallulah#bemoretim@ststephensaud @Hermesparcels pic.twitter.com/o1EEoPnsp9
There’s no denying that lockdown has brought some tough times with it over these past few months, but we can be so grateful that we are able to witness moments of light such as this.
Hats off to you Tallulah and Tim – thank you for making Manchester proud.
Trending
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd July 2020 
