A salute to heroes who lifted the Covid gloom
THIS week marked a year since everyone’s world shrank and life changed dramatically – we still don’t know how long for.
It was March 23, 2020, that Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK’s first lockdown because of Coronavirus.
As the country struggled to come to terms with rules, restrictions and a global pandemic a renewed appreciation emerged for nurses, doctors and other NHS workers.
They were the heroes of this new fight – as were a range of frontline workers such as shopworkers, emergency services and teachers.
There were others too. If the pandemic had any sliver lining it was that it brought out a community togetherness not everyone believed was still there.
Nowhere was this selflessness and spirit more apparent than Macclesfield, where people devised new ways of helping others through the crisis, fundraising for important causes, staying connected and keeping morale up.
So here we take a look back at some of our town’s everyday heroes, those who made a difference to people’s lives right here in Macclesfield.
Thank you to you all.
A BAKER rose to the occasion to keep those on the front line of the battle against Coronavirus supplied with tasty treats.
Emily Turner, Ecton Avenue, runs Home Baking Cheshire at weekends and in the evening in addition to working full-time as a PA. She put her skills to good use, rustling up goodies such as shortbread, cake and chocolate brownies and then delivering them to emergency workers.
Recipients included Macclesfield Hospital, ambulance workers, firemen, 111 call centre workers and supermarkets
LOCKDOWN made many people move activities online but one club’s members were served up a real treat – the new sport of isolation tennis. Tim Shercliff, a member of
Macclesfield Tennis Club, invented the game as he was missing his fellow players. He devised a version that can be played over video platform Zoom either with two opponents in a single match of four making up doubles.
All that people needed to play was a racket and ball each as well as a doormat to stand on. Tim, from Bollington, said: “It is still recognisably tennis. It has tension and drama and someone always wins.
“Like everyone else these days we are doing what we normally do but in a different way.”
A MUSICIAN showed his metal by producing a Limp Bizkit Coronavirus parody video that quickly racked up more than 500,000 internet views. Fa Caudwell, from Macclesfield, recorded an adapted version of the rock band’s hit Rollin’ with Covid-19 lyrics. He then filmed any accompanying video at his home and result went down a storm. Fa said: “My primary focus is to make people laugh and support positivity and there is the message to stay safe.”
STAFF at a builders merchant sprang into action to ensure vital equipment could be installed at Macclesfield Hospital. Peter Gibson, from MKM Building Supplies, on Queens Avenue, Macclesfield, took a surprise call from East Cheshire NHS Trust saying supplies were urgently needed to help install an oxygen tank. So Peter and his workers delivered 120 flagstones, sand, cement and shovels without charge so the 40sq m base could be made at the Coronavirus ward.
A WOMAN turned her wedding business into a workshop to produce medical scrubs for staff at Macclesfield Hospital. Debbie Moore, from Macclesfield, normally runs bridal dress business Adeva from premises on Chester Road. When the Covid-19 crisis has meant her business had shut she bought a cutter and placed a starter order of fabric to make the vital equipment.
FITNESS guru Joe Wicks got kids exercising through the Covid-19 crisis – but he wasn’t the only one. Amy Mayers, from Sylk Dance Academy, on Union Street, moved her business online when the pandemic started. All 40 of her classes continued as either pre-recorded YouTube videos for children to do at their leisure or as live Zoom sessions. Amy said: “We have been overwhelmed with kind and supportive messages and many videos and pictures of the children doing their routines at home..”
A GREAT-GRANDAD who was due to run in the cancelled London Marathon took on the 26-mile distance by running round his house. Harry Newton, 83, from Broken Cross, complete 461 laps of his front and back garden to raise money for the NHS Charities Together.
After doing this in April, on what would have been marathon day, he then took part in the Virtual London Marathon in October, raising money for East Cheshire Hospice. Harry said: “Every little helps and of course the NHS is an amazing cause.
“It’s very difficult to explain why I love running, I just enjoy it.”
A CARTOON artist helped keep children entertained by setting up online workshops. Marc Jackson from Macclesfield, ran informal lessons on YouTube, uploaded demonstrations and on Saturdays had live comic readings with his children in a bid to recreate kids’ TV shows such as Going Live. Marc, who has had his work feature in the Beano, said: “People have suggested doing something online before but I didn’t have time, now suddenly I have. I try and make things fun and positive but also educational.
“It’s not maths or science but I try and capture children’s imagination and plant a seed for them to go and do something.”
NURSERY teachers reminded children who they were by starring in a video featuring one of their favourite songs. Staff at Tiny Adventures, based at Macclesfield Learning Zone, were worried that toddlers would forget who they were during the first lockdown. So they each filmed themselves singing and dancing to the hit Can’t Stop the Feeling, which was featured in the hit movie Trolls. One of the stars of the video Sophie Yates, said: “It’s a way of keeping everyone together and making sure the kids recognise our faces as they won’t have seen us for a long time.”