A NHS workers’ Clap for Carers banner which paid tribute to war veteran Captain Sir Tom Moore is set to go on display at the Museum of Liverpool when it reopens later this year.
The banner was designed by the Radiography team at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who created new banners every week ahead of the Clap for Carers event each Thursday.
It comes after 100 year old Captain Tom, who raised more than £32m for NHS charities, received a Knighthood from the Queen in his own personal ceremony at Windsor Castle earlier this month.
L-R Anne McChrystal, Radiology Nursing Assistant, and Nicola Ragel, Trauma Imaging and Community Services Manager at Aintree University Hospital, handover the Clap for Carers banner to Kay Jones, Lead Curator of Community History at the Museum of Liverpool.
Museum staff first spotted the banner in local media reports of the Clap for Carers event which took place on 30th April 2020 (see here).
Also featured on the banner is Chanel, an African grey parrot that went missing and briefly became an internet sensation after her owner’s emotional plea to be reunited went viral on social media.
The banner will form part of the museum’s COVID-19 collecting project and display, which will document items and experiences gathered from the people of Liverpool during the global coronavirus pandemic.
Anne McChrystal, Radiology Nursing Assistant at Aintree University Hospital, was part of the team who created the banner, said:
“There have been some challenging moments for all of us over the last few months but the support from our local community has helped get us through and the weekly clap for carers was something we all really looked forward to. Each week we’d design a new banner, and this one coincided with Captain Tom being appointed an honorary colonel to mark his 100th birthday. The fundraising he’s done for the NHS is incredible, so as a team we wanted to show our thanks by including him on our banner.
“We couldn’t be more proud that our banner will be displayed in the Museum of Liverpool, at the heart of the city we care for.”
Kay Jones, Lead Curator of Community History at the Museum of Liverpool, said:
“The fabulous banner caught my eye straight away while looking for items which represent how people from across our communities responded to and have been affected by the pandemic. It sums up lots of aspects of life for us during the crisis; the city coming together to support each other, along with a fun, very Liverpool story which captured the nation’s attention!”
