The trees outside the Alex are sprouting ribbons in NHS blue – as a ‘thank you’ to hospital staff both in Redditch and across the country.
It’s all the work of local resident Gemma Crook who wanted to do something to cheer people up and show how grateful everyone is to our NHS as staff deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
“The people who work in our NHS have always been wonderful, but they are just doing brilliant work at the moment and I felt I had to do something to show just how much we appreciate them,” said the part time youth worker, who’s normally based in Droitwich.
For our NHS: Gemma gave a blue ribbon to Redditch Standard editor Ross Crawford who tied it to the tree in his garden.
“I can’t be with the youngsters because of the lockdown so we’re doing everything online. I asked them what they thought of the idea and they gave it the thumbs up so here I am.”
Gemma used to run a business decorating tables and chairs for weddings and so had plenty of blue ribbons and gauze to hand.
“Last Thursday I put some outside the house and when we were all outside clapping for the NHS my neighbours asked if they could have some, and the local shop too,” said the Crabbs Cross resident.
She’s also at pains to point out that she’s not breaking any lockdown rules by being outside the Alex.
“It’s all part of my daily exercise from home and I’m putting up as many as I can before going home and I’ll keep doing it,” she said.
Just yesterday, Saturday, April 11, it was revealed 84 people have died of Covid-19 in Worcestershire, including a nurse at the Alex who died after developing the symptoms of the coronavirus.
