Two-year-old Reuben Kelly’s birthday dreams came true when his street’s bin men joined in on his birthday celebrations.
The adorable Chorlton resident watches the unlikely heroes from his house every week, and the keen recycler was overjoyed when the team sang a rendition of happy birthday to him last week.
Mum Michelle Parkin-Kelly says little Reuben is fascinated by watching the bin lorry and he even has a special name for it.
She said: “He calls it the ‘yuk-yuk van’, because his nan explained that it takes away the ‘yuk-yuk’.
“Every Wednesday, we go outside, so that Reuben can wave to the lorry. The guys always wave back and say hi to him.
When it came to his special day, Grandma Kim Chewah took the initiative to ask the bin men to join in on the fun.
Michelle said: “My mum’s a bit cheeky, so she shouted to the crew, ‘It’s his birthday!’
“Straight away, they came over and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. Then they let him sit in the truck. He was absolutely over the moon and will be talking about it for months on end.”
Thanks to Manchester City Council, Reuben now has his own hi-vis uniform to complete his recycling exploits.
HAPPY: Reuben with local bin men Andrew Charlesworth and Andrew Hudson
Mum Michelle said: “I’ve asked him what he wants to do when he grows up and he said he wants to empty the bins into the back of the lorry.
So he will definitely wear his new hi-vis uniform with pride.
I want to say a huge thank you to the crew, as I know they are on a tight schedule, but they do an amazing job and are a credit to the council.”
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s Executive member for Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, said: “I’d like to thank the workers who took a moment during their busy round to make young Reuben’s day.
It’s to Michelle’s credit that he has taken such a keen interest in recycling.”
