Corona Virus
VIDEO: Flying the flags in Cramlington – thousands of them!
Around 2000 flags have been gifted to the people of Cramlington as part of the campaign to turn the town red, white and blue for VE Day 75.
When Cramlington businessman Ricardo Thornton Bell saw a post about the campaign on a Facebook post by Councillor Mark Swinburn, he jumped straight into action and decided to donate a pallet of flags from his Furniture Deals warehouse – he also arranged for their delivery by father and son removal team John and Louis.
Cllr Swinburn expressed his personal thanks to Mr Thornton Bell and added “Some of the flags are already being distributed with care packages. I am so impressed with the way residents have responded throughout the pandemic – this is yet another example of the great community spirit within the town.”
Stacks of boxes were initially delivered to Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project, which is currently being used as a hub for the Cramlington covid-19 support team and it is also supporting a number of Cramlington based community organisations.
So far flags have been given to or distributed by Cramlington hospital (NSECH), Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project, Cramlington Food Bank, Engage, East Hartford Community Centre, Eastfield Estates Community Centre, Ian Levy MP, Church of the Nazarene, Cramlington Branch of Royal British Legion and Cramlington Youth Network to disperse with members. All of these organisations, alongside CVYP and the Northumberland Communities Together volunteers have been working together to respond to local need.
Some flags are being kept back in the hope that they can be used to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ day in August. Other flags are being distributed by Cramlington Town Councillors in their wards.
Cramlington Community Engagement officer Maggie Martin said “Ricardo’s donation is great! The community response in Cramlington during the coronavirus pandemic has been phenomenal and these flags will help bring some cheer to the town’s residents as they celebrate VE Day 75 on Friday.”
