Cambridge buildings turn blue and villager creates garden display to thank NHS and key workers
Tributes to key workers were paid throughout the region on Thursday night, with the Make It Blue campaign lighting up three venues in Cambridge during the Clap for Carers on Thursday night.
Gonville & Caius College houses the largest intake of medical students in Cambridge, and for project leader Justin Crane, owner of The Crane Event, it was a personal goal as his uncle was an alumnus, studying at Caius back in the 1960s.
“It really meant a lot to be asked to light up the Great Gate,” said Justin.
“Knowing that my late uncle, who I deeply admired, studied there and went on to change lives throughout the world just solidified the want to celebrate their medicinal legacy in any way we can.”
Gonville & Caius master Pippa Rogerson said: “We are incredibly thankful to all key workers and especially proud of those Caians who are on the frontline.
“It is wonderful to see Great Gate, such a visible landmark in Cambridge, lit up in blue in support of the valuable work of NHS staff, key workers and carers in all settings.”
The second building to be lit up was Westminster College.
“All the team from Westminster College are excited to be involved in the #makeitblue campaign and proud to be able to thank our NHS teams across the country in this way,” said Nick Lomax, business development manager at the college.
“The college looks fantastic and provides an amazing canvas to show our appreciation of the work being completed by the NHS.”
The event team, which features The Crane Event, JMPS, Pink Lamp, Blueshed and JezO’s, were approached by the daughter of a former Cambridge University design engineer with the third location.
Sharon King-Livesey said: “Cambridge’s iconic sculpture ‘Construction in Aluminium’ was illuminated in blue in support of the NHS and key workers tonight.
“Built by my dad, design engineer Clive King in 1967, and a team at Cambridge University Engineering labs, Kenneth Martin’s sculpture design is synonymous with the innovation happening in Cambridge and beyond, in the fight to save lives.”
Professor Tim Minshall, Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation and Head of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), said: “We are delighted to take part in the #makeitblue campaign. Some of our own Department of Engineering staff have been working on projects to help tackle COVID-19.
"They have seen at first hand the tremendous commitment and professionalism of health workers at Addenbrooke’s and throughout the UK healthcare system, as well as in hospitals overseas. We hope our efforts give them some useful practical support; we hope the lighting of our sculpture shows all key workers our steadfast moral support.”
A Bottisham has resident has created a thank you to NHS workers in his front garden.
Ian Baker has put up a big banner with blue lights on the bush outside his house in a show of appreciation to frontline workers.
He has also been playing a song a week out loud to lift the spirits of his neighbours, first with You’ll Never Walk Alone, then Everything’s Gonna Be Alright and finally, as a tribute to Captain Tom Moore, Happy Birthday.
A lady on the same street has also been signing Somewhere Over the Rainbow every week, and is encouraging others on the street to join.
Rebecca Saxton captured nature’s own show of support to the NHS.
Just before the Clap for Carers, she spotted a rainbow over Cambridge, which seemed to be the most appropriate time to bring smiles to the city.
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