People in the Harrogate district are being asked to thank the NHS and local volunteers in contrasting ways this weekend.

Harrogate and District Community Action is encouraging people to raise a glass this evening to volunteers who continue to work during the pandemic.

HADCA, which had to cancel its annual Volunteering Oscars awards because of covid, is asking people to raise their glass or mug at 7pm and then post images of themselves saying ‘cheers’ on social media, tagging the Volunteering Oscars on Twitter using #nevermoreneeded.

The Volunteering Oscars celebrates volunteers in the district who help the elderly, children or terminally ill, or whose efforts ensure venues such as museums stay open.

John Fox, chair of HADCA, said:

“We clapped hands for the NHS – why don’t we all lift a glass to say thanks to all the volunteers across the Harrogate district for what they’ve done?”

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Jonathan Sanderson and his two children practising their howls.

A Harrogate businessman has come up with an altogether different way to celebrate the NHS in a fun way that also appeals to children at Halloween.

Jonathan Sanderson, managing director of IT recruitment company Corecom Consulting, is asking people to Howl for Heroes on their doorsteps at 7pm on Saturday.

Mr Sanderson said:

“My children, along with so many others, are disappointed that the traditional evening of our local community in Harrogate coming together trick or treating will not be able to happen due to covid.

“Howl for Heroes is a socially distanced, fun and noisy alternative to coming together on the evening and recognising the hard work of the NHS who are continuing to support those suffering with the illness.”

Steve and Clare Walmsley may well be leading the field when it comes to an unusual way of thanking the NHS.

The couple live with their teenage children Heidi and Freddie at Brooklands Farm close to the A61 Ripon to Harrogate Road near South Stainley and have a corner of a field on a raised plain has proved a prime location for catch the eye messages, such as Support British Farming and follow the Tour De Yorkshire.

Now they have taken matters to a whole new attention-grabbing level by placing a sign that reads ‘Thank You NHS’ and putting rainbows on the side of resident ewes Muffin and Milkshake, who munch the lush grass as lorries, cars, motorcyclists and cyclists pass by on the nearby road.

Steve told The Stray Ferret:

“We decided to do this because people are having a tough time at the moment and need something to smile about.”

The rainbows on Muffin, who is a Mule and Texel Cross Milkshake, were put on using an animal marker and are so far on one side of the ewes, but Steve and Clare are planning use the marker colours on the other side of each animal, so the rainbow can be seen whichever way the ewes are turning.

Clare, who has family that work in the NHS, added:

“We are so grateful for what the front line workers are going for us all, that we wanted to find a special way of saying thank you to them.”

Their decision to put the sign in the field with their rainbow sheep is clearly working, as drivers of vehicles passing by could be heard papping their horns as they went past.