Wickersley's Covid-19 HEROES
Wickersley Parish Council led the local community to create a colourful 'Rainbow Roundabout' to show their appreciation to NHS and other key workers who have looked after the people of Wickersley during the Covid-19 emergency. The ribbons, pom-poms, rainbows and other tributes have now been taken down. They have been used some to make 'Thank You' Certificates and Tokens for Wickersley Covid-19 heroes and the rest will go on display in the Wickersley Community Centre for everyone to see.
Said Cllr Sue Ellis, Chair of Wickersley Parish Council, "The people of Wickersley, and certainly the children of Wickersley, really took our idea of the Rainbow Roundabout to their hearts and did a fabulous job. I'm really pleased that, with the help of local volunteers, we've been able to turn some of these ribbons into lasting mementoes to show our gratitude to all the key workers who have served and continue to serve the people of Wickersley so steadfastly during this emergency. I've been out distributing these tokens over the last few weeks to those working in our surgeries and health centres, pharmacies, shops, foodbanks, funeral services and local Post Office. And I've also been catching up with our Wickersley bin men, posties and milkmen. It's been humbling to hear some of their Covid-19 stories and learn more about the difficulties and challenges they have faced during this emergency. I know the people of Wickersley have really appreciated their care and service to us."
![Covid 19 Thank You token reverse](/images/27_5f5697599adf0610817513/medium.jpg?v=1599510361)
![Covid 19 Thank you TOKENS](/images/27_5f50b5910d36e106908632/medium.jpg?v=1599124881)
![Covid 19 Thank You token reverse](/images/27_5f50b5a5b3eec089723549/medium.jpg?v=1599124901)
Local shops and businesses stayed open during 'Lockdown' and their staff did a great job in the most difficult of circumstances. Since 'Lockdown' was relaxed, shops and businesses have installed perspex screens and other measures to protect their staff - but these 'Heroes' worked without screens during the height of the pandemic.
Said Peter Cusworth of Cusworths Butchers "I came into work because it was my business, but my team didn't have to - but they did - great people"
![Coop Tanyard with Alison (Manager), Lynda and Nicola Tanyard Co-op with Alison, Lynda & Nicola](/images/27_5f50b543626f6236647595/medium.jpg?v=1599124803)
Tanyard Co-op with Alison, Lynda & Nicola
![Coop Funeralcare Julie and Mark on 030820 Co-op Funeralcare with Julia and Mark](/images/27_5f50b4e523151063766432/medium.jpg?v=1599124709)
Co-op Funeralcare with Julia and Mark
![Cusworths butchers with Carol, Ellie and Jack Cusworths Butchers with Carol, Ellie & Jack](/images/27_5f50b5de9c369316989351/medium.jpg?v=1599124958)
Cusworths Butchers with Carol, Ellie & Jack
![Greggs with Elaine and Macey on 050820 Greggs with Elaine & Macey](/images/27_5f50b60725b95217640323/medium.jpg?v=1599124999)
Greggs with Elaine & Macey
Our local banks maintained a great service for local people.
And Wickersley Post Office - with just two members of staff - stayed open every day to make sure we had stamps for all the extra letters, cards and parcels we were sending to stay in touch with friends and family.
Heroes all of you!
![Nat West Bank Colin Waddington, Manager on 300720 Nat West Bank with Colin Waddington, Branch Manager](/images/27_5f50b642e6053832062574/medium.jpg?v=1599125058)
Nat West Bank with Colin Waddington, Branch Manager
![Wickersley Post Office Wickersley Post Office](/images/27_5f50b66c2fde0970728399/medium.jpg?v=1599125100)
Wickersley Post Office
![Lloyds Bank Lloyds Bank](/images/27_5f5699187ac9c168696503/medium.jpg?v=1599510808)
Lloyds Bank
All our Wickersley Key Workers were on the front line during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic but none more so than those working in our local health centres and pharmacies.
In total we gave out 104 individual tokens to key workers in health care settings which gives you an idea of just how many people were involved!
![Morthen Rd Surgery on 300720 Morthen Rd Surgery](/images/27_5f50b6963cb32183798408/medium.jpg?v=1599125142)
Morthen Rd Surgery
![Wickersley Health Centre Dr Clark practice Jayne and team on 050820 Wickersley Health Centre - Dr Clark's practice](/images/27_5f50b6c1da421483466956/medium.jpg?v=1599125185)
Wickersley Health Centre - Dr Clark's practice
![Wickersley Health Centre Clifton practice Tracy Andrea and Sharon on 050820 Wickersley Health Centre - Clifton practice](/images/27_5f50b6e9a37c4454871011/medium.jpg?v=1599125225)
Wickersley Health Centre - Clifton practice
![Well Pharmacy Poplar Glade on 050820 Well Pharmacy on Poplar Glade](/images/27_5f50b7e11de5d175233150/medium.jpg?v=1599125473)
Well Pharmacy on Poplar Glade
![Wickersley Pharmacy on 300720 Wickersley Pharmacy](/images/27_5f50b80498211677964605/medium.jpg?v=1599125508)
Wickersley Pharmacy
![Well Pharmacy Tanyard with Janet and Caroline 050820 Well Pharmacy on the Tanyard](/images/27_5f50b85d3e050689172296/medium.jpg?v=1599125597)
Well Pharmacy on the Tanyard
![Sunnyside Supplies with Neil Fulcher Sunnyside Supplies](/images/27_5f57da62ae3f1052388856/medium.jpg?v=1599593058)
Sunnyside Supplies
'Sunnyside Supplies' provided a local Food Bank service for people in Wickersley and the surrounding areas. A hugely valuable service meeting needs which are often hidden and about which people are reluctant to talk.
During the height of the pandemic, Sunnyside Supplies were providing over 60 food parcels each week.
A recent survey found that during the last six months of 'Lockdown' and school holidays 14% of adults with children reported experiencing 'food insecurity', many parents skipping meals to ensure there was food for their children.
THANK YOU Sunnyside Supplies for all that you, your volunteers and supporters have done to try and address these problems.
The nurseries and schools in Wickersley stayed open and staff kept working to enable parents who were in other 'key' and 'essential' areas of to also continue working..
THANK YOU!
![Granby Nursery with Sharon and Kelly Granby House Nursery with Sharon & Kelly](/images/27_5f50b7207e926490430438/medium.jpg?v=1599125280)
Granby House Nursery with Sharon & Kelly
![Wickersley Nursery with Deputy Manager Samantha Wickersley Nursery with Samantha, Deputy Manager](/images/27_5f50b74e76e14557454135/medium.jpg?v=1599125326)
Wickersley Nursery with Samantha, Deputy Manager
![Northfield Under 5's with John Armstrong Northfield Under 5's with John Armstrong](/images/27_5f50b774f0627152957966/medium.jpg?v=1599125364)
Northfield Under 5's with John Armstrong
![St Albans School on 110920 St Albans Primary School staff team led by Headteacher, Amy Gurner](/images/27_5f607c8a700a5379123535/medium.jpg?v=1600158858)
St Albans Primary School staff team led by Headteacher, Amy Gurner
![Northfield Lane School on 110920 Northfield Lane Primary School with Headteacher, Claire Middleton](/images/27_5f607cd4de9e4146158554/medium.jpg?v=1600158932)
Northfield Lane Primary School with Headteacher, Claire Middleton
And where would we have been without our Posties and Bin Men?? THANK YOU!
![Wickersley Bin Men](/images/27_5f607f4f37551539669321/medium.jpg?v=1600159567)