CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS Covid-19 cases on the rise across the Moorlands – p2
THE Staffordshire Moorlands are under Covid restrictions for England, but not additional local rules. From today, it will be in the medium alert (tier one) category.
But what does that mean?
▶ You must not socialise in groups larger than six, indoors or outdoors (other than where a legal exemption applies)
▶ Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a Covid-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
▶ Certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
▶ Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-andcollect or drive-through
▶ Schools and universities remain open ▶ Places of worship remain open, subject to the rule of six
▶ Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees
▶ Exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors, or indoors if the rule of six is followed
You must:
▶ Wear a face covering in those areas where this is mandated
You should continue to:
▶ Follow social distancing rules
▶ Work from home where you can effectively do so
▶ When travelling, plan ahead or avoid busy times and routes. Walk or cycle if you can
A LEEK singing group featured in a film to celebrate the emergency services are calling on residents to stand on their doorsteps next weekend and wave a blue light into the sky.
Members of The British Police Symphony Orchestra (BPSO) have created a film of Rick Wakeman’s Dance of a Thousand Lights (as featured on BBC1’S The One Show) and invite people light up the skies in support of the country’s blue light emergency teams.
Featuring more than 300 performers, including the Phoenix Singers of Leek, and drawn from the wider police family throughout the UK and recorded entirely in isolation during lockdown, the film celebrates all who serve in our ambulance, fire and police services and who are working so hard in this current crisis to protect those we love.
This unique fundraising project is in support of PC David Rathband’s The Blue Lamp Foundation, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
The money raised will enable the charity to help our team 999 heroes who struggle with mental, emotional or physical injuries as a result of their commitment to us while on duty.
Chairman of the Phoenix Singers, Lesley Roberts, said: “The Phoenix Singers have been involved previously with the British Police Symphony Orchestra and have done a couple of concerts with them, one of which included Rick Wakemans Dance of a Thousand Lights.
“Because of this, we were invited to join in with this performance as we already knew it.
“We had to do remote recordings, and send them in.
“They were then ‘magic-ed’ into the performance you see in the film.”
Musical director of the BPSO, Dr Richard Jenkinson, said: “This project is an incredible achievement, bringing together as it has more than 70 members of the BPSO, the internationally acclaimed classical pianist, Benjamin Frith and 300 performers from massed police choirs. A project such as this would have been impossible a few years ago and it is a tribute to all involved that we have used the technology available to create such a ground-breaking recording.”
The film, featuring every performer, along with footage of blue light heroes and vehicles, provides the perfect soundtrack to a visual spectacular to be staged on Saturday, October 24.
At 5.45pm on this date, members of the public are invited to stand outside, at a safe social distance and wave blue lights into the skies, to become one of the BPSO’S thousand lights. Where available, blue light emergency vehicles from all 999 response teams will flash blue lights in appreciation of the public support.
Lesley added: “Light up the skies at sunset and celebrate your team 999 heroes - It’s that easy!”
To watch the film go to youtu.be/mfhjy_ SUGXC.
And to find out more about the project, the range of official merchandise and ways in which donations can be made, visit: www.bpso.org.uk.