A PROJECT to celebrate frontline carers and key workers who have supported people in and around Tavistock throughout the coronavirus pandemic launches today.

‘Tavistock Local Heroes’ invites people to nominate their heroes who either live or work in the Tavistock Times area — whether that’s individuals, teams or whole services, nurses, delivery drivers or volunteers.

The aim is to pair each nominee up with a local artist who will create a unique piece of work to celebrate each hero and the difference they have made during the pandemic. Together the artist and nominee will decide how best to represent the ‘heroism’— it could be a portrait, a painting of a team at work, a sculpture, piece of pottery, or a poem.

At the end of the crisis, an exhibition will be mounted under the title ‘Tavistock’s Local Heroes’. 

Local artist and exhibition joint organiser Bev Moody said: ‘We have already recruited painters, sculptors, potters, photographers and a poet to help. These include well-known local artists, students from our secondary schools and amateurs who will be exhibiting for the first time.

‘What they all have in common is a deep desire to say “thank you” to those people who have done so much and have taken such personal risks to see us through this pandemic. If you are an artist and you’d like to be part of this historic enterprise, please get in touch with us.’

The project is the brainchild of Grenofen resident Matt Fletcher, whose wife Kath is at the front line in the intensive care unit at Derriford Hospital. Working together with town councillor Graham Parker, Matt has gained support from Tavistock Locals Help, the coronavirus support group, Tavistock Times, Tavistock Lions and Tavistock Town Council.

‘A huge number of people have worked quietly throughout the pandemic: saving lives, delivering food, supporting sick people, helping older people and keeping vital services going,’ said Graham.

‘We have clapped them every Thursday evening but what we want to do with this exhibition is to create a lasting record of the way in which they have supported communities in the Tavistock area through this hugely difficult time.’

‘We’re looking for your hero nominations as well as more artists to get on board with the project. All we need is your name and contact details and an explanation of why you believe that this person or group should be celebrated. We’ll be selecting on a first-come, first-served basis.’

‘Eventually — depending on how long it takes for the pandemic to pass — we will mount an exhibition of the work in the centre of Tavistock. Please email your nominations to [email protected] or post to the Tavistock Times Gazette at 42 Brook Street, Tavistock PL19 0HE.

The deadline is the end of September.

Please include:

Name of person nominating

Telephone number

Email address if available

Name of person being nominated

Roughly what the person being nominated does