Florence Coke, known locally as Mama Flo, stood in the ITV studio expecting a food segment but instead received the 2026 Pride of Britain This Morning Local Hero award. The 71-year-old owner of a Caribbean takeaway in Stockport, Greater Manchester, earned the distinction for distributing thousands of free meals to children, pensioners, and those facing financial hardship.
Her mission runs deeper than business. For over 30 years in the UK, Coke has replicated a Jamaican childhood tradition where her mother fed the community. During the cost-of-living crisis, she intensified efforts, sending food parcels to elderly residents who could not travel to her shop and ensuring no child went hungry during school holidays.
One incident defined her resolve: an elderly man arrived at her shop without his pension and nothing to eat. Coke recalled breaking down in tears, stating she could not imagine anyone going without food. This empathy drives her daily routine, beginning at 4 am when she starts preparing meals before opening the restaurant.
The award ceremony on This Morning highlighted her quiet dedication. Presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary revealed the prize to a shocked Coke, who attributed her cooking to "all love." She continues to support recently released prisoners and those with mobility issues, maintaining that her work requires no return, only that recipients pay kindness forward.
Coke plans to continue her early morning preparations and community support, with no change to her operations despite the national spotlight. The recognition serves as a formal acknowledgment of her role in mitigating local food insecurity in Stockport.