Local hero Mama Flo honoured with Pride of Britain Award
By Alasdair Perry 22nd Oct 2026
A local hero has been honoured with a Pride of Britain award for her work in helping the most vulnerable.
Florence Coke, best-known as Mama Flo, runs a Caribbean takeaway on Buxton Road where she provides delicious meals - not just to paying customers, but also for free to members of the community who might be struggling.
She offered free meals at the height of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, provided free lunches to children during the summer holidays, and also fed pensioners for free over Christmas.
Mama Flo explained that this charity is something she grew up with in Jamaica, where she was born.
"When I was a small kid growing up in my community in Jamaica, my dad and my mum were very, very hardworking farmers," she said.
"My parents would line out all these plates to feed people in the community. I grew up with this mentality of doing what I saw my parents do, so I've been doing this for years. Years.
"If you give five meals for the day, you're not going to get broke, I'm telling you. I've given away thousands, thousands, thousands and I'm still here going strong because people see what I'm doing, so people supported me. Please everybody, please share the love."
Mama Flo was surprised live on TV with news of her award - she'll officially claim it at the Pride of Britain Awards ceremony which airs on ITV1 at 8pm on Thursday 22 October.
In the meantime, she continues to cook up delicious dishes at her Buxton Road takeaway.
It's proved popular with locals and famous people alike - with footballers Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire both fans of Mama Flo's food.
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