‘Nurses run towards danger, not away from it’
HANNAH GRACE DELLER AND CHRIS DIFFORD TELL JADE WRIGHT HOW A PHOTO PROJECT INSPIRED AN ALBUM
AS THE nation clapped on doorsteps and children painted rainbows to put in their windows, Hannah Grace Deller was among thousands of frontline workers going into battle against Covid-19.
Usually a paediatric matron at St Mary’s Hospital in London, her role shifted as it became clear that as many beds as possible needed to be used to help desperately ill patients through the worst of the virus.
‘We knew pretty early that our ward would be used for patients with Covid, so we looked at moving the children safely home or to other wards where they could be looked after, and started to welcome in our first adult patients,’ she explains.
‘It was a real privilege to be able to help. We applauded as they came in, and as they left. Sadly, some didn’t ever get to go home.
‘I think a lot of the public felt very helpless, but for us, we were able to use the training we’ve been doing for our whole careers.
‘Nurses are people who run towards danger, not away from it, because if there’s a chance we can help someone, we want to be there. Sometimes all you can do is hold someone’s hand, but I’d still rather know I’m there doing that than be anywhere else.’
As the pandemic worsened, Hannah began documenting life on the wards. With the hospital visitors limited, she wanted to record what life on the frontline had been like. She had an eye for a good picture, having trained as a photographer before becoming a nurse.
‘I’d ask colleagues if I could take a photo of them getting into PPE, and they were happy someone was documenting what was happening,’ she says. ‘It was such an unreal time, we want to be able to remember what it was like, when we hopefully reach the other side.’
The images she captured were so powerful a friend suggested she send some of them to Grayson Perry’s Art Club on Channel 4.
‘There was a competition, but I didn’t know until the night before the deadline, so I hurriedly sent an image, and then they came back and asked for more,’ she says. ‘Before I knew it they were featuring them on the show. I couldn’t believe it.’
Hannah’s pictures and her poignant story inspired Squeeze co-founder Chris Difford, who had been watching the show while locked down at home. The Ivor Novello award-winning lyricist was so moved he contacted some of the songwriters he’s worked with at his Pennard House retreats and arranged to collaborate on a track.
‘I grew up listening to Squeeze – they were my dad’s favourite band – and when he got in touch I realised we’re from the same part of London, so we had plenty to talk about,’ laughs Hannah. ‘Chris has a community of songwriters he works with, and over lockdown they were doing Zoom sessions, so they all got involved. Chris is such a lovely man, and I was really humbled that he and the writers he works with felt inspired to write a song.’
That one song became a whole album, Son Club, with contributions from Nick Heyward, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Graham Gouldman, Mark Nevin, Julia Fordham, Robert Vincent, Judie Tzuke, Kimmie Rhodes, Judith Owen and Kathryn Williams. Proceeds will go to the Royal College of Nursing Foundation Covid-19 Support Fund.
‘Hannah’s pictures moved me first when I saw them on Art Club with Grayson Perry,’ Chris says. ‘I often use images as a starting block to write lyrics. I asked many of my friends in my songwriting circle if they would write a song to the inspiration found in the pictures, and the album was born. There are 20 great songs to enjoy, with more in the wings.
‘Songwriters have been in lockdown like everyone else and collectively we have dark stages and an unsure future regarding live performances, so this has been something to focus on by way of embracing the amazing work of the NHS and frontline workers. My aim is to document this strange time we are living in and I hope to bring inspiring songs to the ears of many.’
Hannah was overwhelmed when she first heard the album. ‘I had tears running down my face,’ she says.
‘I couldn’t believe that those amazing songwriters had been inspired by what we’d been doing. They even invited me to rap on Working On The Frontline which was quite an experience.
‘It’s just such a beautiful album, and there’s one song, called Hannah Takes Pictures, by Kathryn Williams, which gets me every time. I’ve told everyone it’s going to be my funeral song, although hopefully not for a long time.’
Working On The Frontline by Jessie & The Leonards, featuring Hannah, is out now. Song Club is out on October 23 (slinky.to/SongClub). See Hannah’s photos at instagram.com/
hannahgracedeller_photography