Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns has recognised three local ‘Unsung Heroes’ for their outstanding response to the COVID-19 pandemic; Rutland’s Elke de Vries and Melton Mowbray’s Kate Howett and Steve Ironside.
Every week, Alicia celebrates at least one winner of the ‘Unsung Hero’ award, raising awareness of people doing extraordinary things locally, and bolstering community spirit amidst the pandemic. All those recognised will receive a certificate of recognition, a badge and be invited to an event once the pandemic is over as a small way to say thank you.
Elke de Vries is a first-year nursing student at Manchester University, who immediately started working at the Rutland Village Care Home when the outbreak began. Elke is working on the frontline of the pandemic while balancing her university work.
Kate Howett started the Isolation Motivation Facebook Page which has been well used by local people to stay connected in the lockdown. Her and her partner Steve Ironside also dress up as Disney characters and superheroes to deliver activities and birthday messages to children.
Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said:
“I am enormously impressed by Elke’s clear sense of national pride and spirit shown through her selfless actions. She is a real credit to our community, country and her family – who should rightly be brimming with pride.
“Kate and Steve’s ingenious initiatives have shed light in our area at what is a very difficult and dark time for many of us. Their positivity, kindness and commitment to our communities make them rightfully our heroes.
“Thank you so much to Elke, Kate and Steve, the three of you are the best of us.”
Other organisations who have already been recognised as heroes are Rutland Plastics, who adapted their plastic injection moulding firm to produce medical equipment for the ExCel Nightingale Ward Hospital in London, Oakham School’s Design and Technology Department, which has been creating thousands of face shields for frontline staff, and Leicestershire and Rutland 4 x 4 drivers who have been delivering essentials and transporting vulnerable community members. The Larder in Oakham, Jim Bluck from Hallaton, Melton Mowbray’s Joe Orson, Rutland Sewing, Little Angels Childcare, Kumar Rakshit, the Moore Brothers and the Howling family have also been recently recognised.
Alicia Kearns MP is encouraging residents who know a person or organisation that deserve recognition for their outstanding response to the pandemic to nominate them on her website at aliciakearns.com/heroes.
