Plumber stunned by Hugh Grant’s $40,000 donation to charity

A man known as “Britain’s kindest plumber” was blown away when he received a $40,000 donation from a world famous actor.

Hugh Grant has made a huge donation to this plumber’s charity. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

A man known as “Britain’s kindest plumber” has expressed his shock after receiving a $40,000 donation from Hugh Grant and his wife Anna.

James Anderson, 55, set up Depher — Disability and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair — in Burnley, northern England in 2017 after meeting people in deprived circumstances with poor heating and plumbing.

He and a team of fellow tradies and volunteers carry out free home repairs and provide food and essentials to those in need.

Mr Anderson generated headlines around the world after he refused to charge an elderly woman for work on her boiler — and it appears his good deeds caught the eye of a major star.

Grant and his wife, producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein, donated £20,000 (A$38,000) to the charity, Mr Anderson revealed on Thursday.

“After speaking privately to Hugh and Anna, I have permission to share their wonderful Christmas gift to Depher UK,” Mr Anderson wrote on X, sharing an image of the donation.

“This wonderful and humbling donation of will give hope to thousands of people, families and children, especially with the cost of living crisis.

“They both have my lifetime of respect and love.”

After speaking privately to @HackedOffHugh and Anna Grant
I have permission to share their wonderful #Christmas gift to @Depheruk
This wonderful and humbling donation of £20,000.00 will give hope to thousands of people, families and children, especially with the… pic.twitter.com/lbC3v6KZ6h

— Depher cic uk (@Depheruk) December 7, 2023

It is understood the latest gift was not the couple’s first donation to Depher, with reports Grant and Eberstein have donated between £50,000 and £75,000 (A$95,000 – 143,000) to the charity since its launch.

The star of hit films Bridget Jones’s Diary, Notting Hill and Four Weddings And A Funeral was among a raft of celebrities who attended Chanel’s annual Métiers d’Art fashion show in Manchester — about 30km south of Burnley — on Thursday night.

“This is a million miles away from many families in places like Burnley,” Mr Anderson said.

“There are different parts of the world that are untouchable to low income families, so to get someone on the other side of the line who steps up to help is very humbling. To know that they care and have humanity in them, regardless of what they have, is very humbling.”

Part of the donation went towards buying $4000 worth of Christmas presents for local children, he added.

Hundreds of children will have a Christmas to remember, they will believe in the magic of giving, humanity and love ❤️

Thank you, @HackedOffHugh Grant and Anna Grant.
Your kindness will create memories that will last forever.https://t.co/5gKE4rb6Iuhttps://t.co/6Nd3BVSpgCpic.twitter.com/ZRsdk8h47x

— Depher cic uk (@Depheruk) December 7, 2023

Earlier this year, Mr Anderson revealed another person who was “more famous than Hugh Grant” had stepped in to save the charity when it fell on hard times.

“I had an email from a gentleman whom I can’t name who has offered £5000 (A$9500) a month to us for the food drive. It allows us to cover the deficit,” he told local outlet the Burnley Express.

“A person from London who is more famous than Hugh Grant decided to step in as he loves what we do. His sister made him aware of us. He didn’t know anything about us. He had a look and fell in love with us and what we do.

“It’s unbelievable. He is someone who definitely understands us because he is from a humble background. He grew up in a similar situation and is someone who now has everything he needs for the rest of his life, so he wants to give back.”