Residents of Portsmouth say a Big Thank You to key workers and for small acts of kindness

As a nation we have faced one of the biggest challenges to test our resolve and resilience in the face of a silent killer we have never battled before – and the people of Portsmouth and the surrounding area have shown kindness and compassion in droves.

Residents have reached out to The News to say thank you for the dedication of key workers, as well as giving thanks to friends, family and neighbours for little actions and big gestures which have made a difference.

Thank you messages have been sent for people from all walks of life, including young newspaper distributor Jack Warden, nominated by proud grandmother Jan Field, bus driver Nigel Haines – mentioned by Hayley Pell – who has been safely getting key workers to their frontline jobs, and Helping Hands Portsmouth’s Bev Saunders, who was thanked by Michelle Brown for her work feeding homeless people.

Lead chaplain at Queen Alexandra Hospital, the Rev Dawn Banting said: ‘I’d like to say thank you to all of the unsung heroes around the trust, to everyone who has worked so tirelessly behind the scenes these past months, thank you one and all.’

SEE ALSO: 65 more key workers who deserve our thanks over the last few months

As the lead pastor of a faith community at ChristCentral Church Portsmouth and trustee at the John Pounds Community Centre, Adam North gets the great pleasure of hearing many stories of kindness across this city.

Adam, who took over as lead pastor in January, said: ‘I’ve heard of so many people looking out for their neighbours, fetching shopping and going out of their way to get medicine, we’ve also had people making meals for families in the church and NHS workers.

‘When Seth Thompson from Baffins turned five he asked his mum if she could bake a whole extra birthday cake so they could give it to a family on the next street – they were very happy!

‘We even had a member of our church on the Isle of Wight, joining us through Zoom, ensuring a doctor friend on the mainland had decent food when he was locked down with Covid-19.’

Proud relatives have reached out to give thanks to sons, husbands and grandchildren, including Michelle Blunden, who wanted to show gratitude to her husband, utility arborist Ant Blunden.

Michelle said: ‘He has made sure all trees are clear of power lines so no one lost their electricity. He has worked hard and never complained.’

Hannah Terrill is a trainee pharmacy technician for the NHS and was nominated by her mum, Sandra Terrill.

Sandra said: 'Hannah herself was tested positive for Covid-19. We are very proud of the way Hannah has coped during this time.'

Pastor Adam North told The News: ‘It is so important we take the time to express gratitude to those who have been kind, this completes the crossing of the bridge created by kindness.

‘It enables people to meet in the middle, for both lives to be touched by the one act of kindness. Just as kindness enriches others, so gratitude enriches us.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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