Royal thank-you for Mid Sussex people helping others during Covid outbreak

Members of support groups helping others in Mid Sussex during the coronavirus pandemic received royal thanks when they met up with Princess Anne yesterday.
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The Princess Royal visited Haywards Heath Town Hall and was welcomed by town mayor Alastair McPherson,

The princess, accompanied by Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex Sir Richard Kleinwort, met those responsible for the response to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak within Haywards Heath and the surrounding villages during the lockdown period.

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She was informed about current arrangements and heard about future plans for residents in the district.

Princess Anne at Haywards Heath Town HallPrincess Anne at Haywards Heath Town Hall
Princess Anne at Haywards Heath Town Hall

As well as meeting statutory and voluntary organisations that worked on the response, The Princess Royal also spoke to volunteers who had given their time to help those who were in need in the community.

These volunteers were from the Haywards Heath Mutual Aid group led by founders Amie Cherverst, Jo Lee and Redwan Chowdhury who had worked in partnership with Haywards Heath Town Council and its ‘Leave No-One Behind’ campaign, to provide day to day and on the ground response to the needs of residents individually, and offer subsidiary services in the town and nearby villages.

This work included receipt of 2,537 telephone calls and the making of 1,660 direct responses through 750 volunteers, to help individuals isolating or shielding.

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The princess also met co-ordinators from Haywards Heath Mutual Aid’s ‘Emergency Food Hub’ set up to support the Haywards Heath Food Bank, which is supported by Haywards Heath Town Council.

Councillor McPherson said: “The impact of the coronavirus has affected everyone in the town, country and indeed the world so this partnership, developed in response to the pandemic, shows what can be achieved when the community comes together in times of need.

“Therefore, it was such an honour to greet Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and introduce her to the people who were so selfless during lockdown.”