CHRIS Crosby drove some 230 miles round trip from his home, in Sale, Greater Manchester, to show a little love to residents living in Malvern’s Watkins Way by delivering each house with an early Valentine’s present – a free bottle of sauce!

It was not just any sauce but sauce with the same name as their street - Geo Watkins Mushroom sauce.

Chris, who is a brand owner for Geo Watkins, said: “I decided to show some love by driving with my son, Sam, to Worcestershire, about 115 miles each way, where the road has the same name as the sauce which sells well in the area.

“Lots of people came out and thanked me and were really happy with their free gift. They also loved my bike!”

Chris said: “Geo Watkins was founded in 1830 by George Watkins, from Camden town. He used to trade the product in and around Camden. Mushroom Ketchup was the original ketchup which pre-dates the modern day “thick” ketchup.”

He said: “One Watkins Way resident asked what it was. I said it was like Worcestershire Sauce, but better. She came out when I was leaving, she said she’d put it on her cheese-on-toast for breakfast and said she was converted. She even asked if she could trade her half-used bottle of Worcestershire Sauce for a second bottle. I gave her a second bottle and let her keep her Worcestershire Sauce! 

“Another resident said she was so excited to try it. She said, being the day before Valentine’s Day, it was the best Valentines present ever! 

Chris explained: “It is an ingredient sauce, rather than a side-of-plate sauce, to add to stews, soups, sauces, pasta, risotto and stir fries, in fact you can add it to any savoury dish to add a depth of flavour or umami richness. It can be used as a vegan alternative to Worcester sauce. The recipe remains unchanged for 194 years and has a loyal following. It can be found in Waitrose, Tesco, ASDA and independent farm shops around the country”.

So, was the long there-and-back in a day journey worth it for Chris and his son? He said it certainly was a ‘saucy success’