Volunteers step up to the plate
‘Dunkirk spirit’ at Hungerford vaccination centre
VOLUNTEER numbers have been doubled at the West Berkshire booster site in Hungerford following the huge numbers of people turning up on spec earlier in the week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement on Sunday, pushing forward vaccinations and boosters, prompted a surge in demand for jabs in the district.
There are nine volunteers on three shifts per day – and all seemed to be enjoying the ‘Dunkirk spirit’ of it all, even dressing up in festive Christmas hats.
Queues as long as four hours were reported at Hungerford on Monday, with people coming from as far afield as Cornwall, Bristol and Bath.
Demand had dropped by Tuesday at the site, where one volunteer joked that “there are more volunteers than people queuing today!”
“It was crazy yesterday,” said car parking volunteer Alan Walker.
“But it has been wonderful. People are very forbearing. When we turn people away they have been really understanding. Frustrated, but not
angry.”
Chris Vaughan put his hand up a fortnight ago to help out.
“Clearly the announcement by Boris got people a bit stirred up,” he said.
“We had very long queues and were having to turn people away, but it has all been good natured.”
Paula Dart was on her first shift, and got the half day off to help out in Hungerford’s hour of need from her boss at software company Sauce in Newbury.
“It is my first slot,” she said.
We had very long queues and were having to turn people away, but it has all been good natured
“My boss gave me the morning off, but we don’t seem to have a queue today.
“I am pleased to be able to help though.”
Jane Hearn, Rosemary David and Sean Crow were all checking in people arriving with appointments, as well as those turning up for walk-ins.
“I was rather hoping for a bit of crowd control work,” joked Sean, on his first shift since the weekend chaos.
Diane Mackey has been redeployed from the Kennet Shopping centre in Newbury, which also reported being inundated with people yesterday.
She said: “The Kennet Centre has been very busy, but we have more facilities now. We are getting through a lot of people.”