A postie in fancy dress, rainbow children, chippies and chaplain all among our Peterborough heroes

Some of the Peterborough Heroes nominated for a special big thank you by our readers included:

- Postal worker Emily Taylor was nominated for helping to keep people’s spirits up during lockdown.

Emily, 39 has been delivering smiles and cheers alongside the post on her rounds in Stanground as she dresses up as superheroes.

She said: “Everyone was saying ‘not all superheroes wear capes’ about key workers, so that was it. I went and got hold of a mask and a superhero cape and it’s just spawned from there. It’s been great raising spirits. It’s not about trivialising the current situation it’s about giving the people something to smile about!”

One nominee said: “She is the best post lady in the world. She puts a smile on everyone’s faces in Stanground.”

- Tegan, Evie, Isla Friel AND LILY PRIVETT were nominated for making bracelets to raise money for NHS charities and for decorating walls with rainbows at their home in Eye.

One of their nominations read: “These fantastic young girls have raised money for ICU nurses during this crisis and selflessly thought about others and who they can help. People are so proud of them.”

- Parvez Akhtar of the Golden Cod takeaway in Crawthorne Road was nominated by several people for keeping his restaurant open and introducing a delivery service to help the elderly and vulnerable.

- James Hayes was nominated and praised for his work helping rough sleepers at the Garden House project during lockdown.

One nominee said: “James is working very hard in his work at the Garden House, working a lot of extra hours helping the rough sleepers of Peterborough to find accommodation.

“He is also helping the residents in Bretton who are needing food parcels often paying for them himself.”

- Newborough Pharmacy received a nomination to thank the team for their dedication and long hours. A PT reader wrote: “All the staff in this pharmacy are working extremely hard for their customers. The pharmacist Meb Dattoo often stays after closing to make sure prescriptions are ready for delivery the next day.

“They all work together and provide the very best service and never refuse to help anyone with their medication. They are most definitely heroes.”

- There were also nominations for Tausif Khan, a muslim faith chaplain at Peterborough City Hospital.

One reader told us: “Tausif is a chaplain at PCH, she has a heart of gold.

“She will go out of her way to help anyone and everyone day or night. Juggling with family life and work Tausif will endeavour to make sacrifices for others.

“She always has the right words to say for every individual who is in desperate need of consolation. Every word uttered is said with love, warmth and care from the bottom of her heart, she has a genuine connection with people and touches and feels their pain.

“She is such a bubbly character always full of beans and smiles, beautiful inside and out.

“Other than her role at PCH she involves herself in community work, bereavement, local mosques etc. She is an inspiration to many.”

-- Mohammed Tariq of the Madina Grill ws nominated for providing free, hot meals for the homeless.

A reader who nominated him told us: “He is an unassuming young man, owns a modest size business yet has exhibited exemplary generosity and altruism throughout the Covid-19 crisis

“He has been providing free cooked hot meals to the homeless, as well as those with homes but in need.

“Further, he has been reluctant to accept money from those in the frontline against Covid-19 such as NHS staff; police; shopworkers and others.”

-- Tracy Lake was nominated for her work with Mencap and for her efforts in taking care packages to vulnerable people in Peterborough. A grateful reader told us: “She works on the frontline for Mencap, checks on me in isolation every day, delivers care packages on her day off, cares for and home-schools her two young daughters whilst having fibromyalgia. She is amaxing!.

“She works with corona heroes as a driver collecting all the food for care packages she has done thousands of miles.”

- Peter Haywood was nominated for putting on music broadcasts, bingo and quizzes to entertain people and reduce isolation during lockdown.

- Tayyaba Azhar, a journalist covering the East of England for Dunya News also does voluntary work.

A reader who nominated her said: “She is inspiring other Asian women.

“She works hard and gets news from Peterborough and the work going on here out to other areas andcountries. She is also a hard working volunteer.”