Lincolnshire Lockdown Heroes honoured at awards event

Local key workers and those who vitally helped the community during the coronavirus lockdown were recognised at the Lincolnshire Lockdown Heroes Awards 2020.

The awards ceremony, organised by The Lincolnite, Lincoln College Group and Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and formally recognised extraordinary people who helped others during lockdown.

The eight worthy winners were selected from over 370 nominations and were treated to a three course meal at the college’s Sessions Restaurant on October 22, vouchers and chocolates.

Lincoln College Group CEO Gary Headland said: “This was an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful examples of human compassion, resolve and bravery that we saw in Lincolnshire throughout the lockdown period.

“Reading the hundreds of nominations was a truly humbling experience and every single individual deserves recognition.

“Our winners really stood out as extraordinary and we were delighted to be able to invite them onto our campus for a small socially distanced celebration today.

“We sincerely hope we will not face another lockdown situation in the near future, but if we do, we have learned that we live in a place where people will support and care for each other when the need arises, allowing us to pull through stronger than ever.

“Another fabulous example of Greater Lincolnshire being a terrific place to live, study, work and visit.”

Meet the winners:

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Aly Gratrick and Sian Mathews

Aly Gratrick is a funeral director for Lincolnshire Co-op and was nominated by a colleague. She worked passionately and tirelessly for the families who lost loved ones throughout lockdown, even going as far as calling people after funerals to make sure they are okay.

Sian Mathews is a community psychiatric nurse working for Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust in Grantham and Sleaford, she was nominated by her boyfriend.

She was so dedicated to her job that at the start of lockdown she sent her three children to stay with their dad for six weeks and keep them safe from COVID-19.

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Joshua Martin

Six-year-old Joshua Martin spent lockdown raising thousands of pounds for good causes, not letting his youth get in the way.

He rode 100 miles on his bike during May, raising £1,245 for the NHS Masks for Heroes charity.

His parents said: “We are so proud of his resilience, determination and kindness and think he is a great ambassador for other young children to follow.”

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Martha and Ayda Tannock

Nominated by their mum, Martha and Ayda Tannock helped the cause by making pamper bags for care homes.

They decorated the bags and wrote personalised letters before delivering them via a district nurse to the care home.

Martha didn’t stop there, and went on to raise £500 and collected donations for over 50 of the pamper bags to be sent to local care homes.

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Debbie McCartney

Debbie and her partner are classed as key workers, and their sacrifice during the coronavirus pandemic was the ultimate one.

Both chose to safeguard their children and live apart, moving their children to Debbie’s in-laws in Mansfield, only communicating via FaceTime.

Her work ethic as a care co-ordinator at St Katherine’s Care in Lincoln was recognised by everyone on her team, resulting in this honour.

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Sarah Usher and Andrew Marchant

Sarah Usher is the manager at the Lincoln Jobcentre and was nominated by her child.

During April, Lincoln took 8,449 new claims to welfare benefit on Universal Credit alone, and Sarah led the team to ensure 96.8% of the claims were paid on time and in full.

Her nomination said: “As a DWP manager I don’t think mum ever gets the same level of recognition as the most obvious key workers but I really feel this amazing effort by her deserves recognition from all the 12.5k Universal Credit and legacy customers supported by her and her team especially at such a challenging time. She’s an absolute hero.”

Andrew Marchant’s work in the Branston area was recognised by many, as he achieved so much with his team of volunteers during lockdown.

Some of his work included delivering 15 boxes to the local food bank, collecting 155 prescriptions and doing 74 shopping trips, as well as regularly helping 95 vulnerable Branston residents.