IN BRIEF
HUGE FLORAL TRIBUTE
APPEARS OUTSIDE
CLATTERBRIDGE HOSPITAL CHESHIRE FREEMASONS
TOAST ‘ABSENT FRIENDS,
AND FRONTLINE
WORKERS IN THE NHS’
Nicola Saverimutto is the florist responsible for the
beautiful floral art instalment placed outside the
entrance to Clatterbridge Oncology Centre. On Monday 23rd March, the first day of home working
for many and millions of people now physically self-
isolated, Cheshire Freemasons joined a national call for
the whole community to take part in a ‘traditional toast’
at 9pm to ensure no one feels alone.
The masterpiece taking pride of place in front of the hospital is a 10
foot high steel heart completely covered in daffodils and foliage. This
was put in place in time for Mother’s day to bring a smile to as many
people as possible.
Staff were unaware of where this had come from or who was responsible
and this really was part of the reason the heart appeared in the first
place.
Nicola has been a florist for many years and has always enjoyed the
pleasure her flowers bring to others and seeing the smiles on recipient’s
faces. Due to the Covid 19 outbreak Nicola had many Mother’s day
orders cancelled and knew she would miss out on those smiles. She
initially thought about working hard to sell the flowers and cut her
losses but knew her heart was not in it so instead she put her flowers
into a heart and put her profits to one side. Nicola wanted to bring
a smile to people’s lips, a happy tear to their eyes and a song to their
hearts. She wanted to do this anonymously and for the only recognition
or reward to be the happiness that was clearly spread by her random
act of kindness.
Nicola, like many people has had periods of fragile mental health
and these have been overcome by her floristry. She wanted people
to recognise and know that in this current climate we all need some
positivity to bolster our spirits and keep ourselves mentally healthy.
The staff at Clatterbridge did finally track Nicola down through social
media and a spokesperson for the hospital said: “Amongst all of the
uncertainty in the world right now, it really is a welcome beacon of joy
and positivity.”
Many people posted comments on the Facebook post with heartfelt
thanks to the NHS team who cared for their loved ones and for the
heart instalment and its creator. Nicola had the help of steel fabricator
Steve Mackay who made the metal structure and a small group of
family and friends to decorate it.
In a world where we can be anything we should all be more like Nicola
and be kind.
10 wirrallife.com
The United Grand Lodge of England’s 200,000 strong membership,
traditionally toasts ‘absent Brethren’, remembering those who are
unable to attend their meetings in person at the dinner that takes
place afterwards.
The organisation has now adapted the usual 9pm toast it makes during
its dinners, inviting everyone to join in a ‘virtual toast’ to ‘absent
friends, and especially those working on the frontline in the NHS’.
Many of Cheshire’s 5,000+ members took part, including members
from the Wirral, sharing pictures on social media and posting on the
website.
The initiative, which uses the online hashtag #TimetoToast, has been
well received over the past few evenings and many people from the
wider community have joined in, making it a time to come together
and share wishes.
Head of Cheshire Freemasons Stephen Blank said “Our membership
includes people of all ages and walks of life, many of whom, like the
rest of the country are now in the safety of their own homes – but we
know many aren’t so fortunate, especially those who are working so
hard to keep us all safe.
"It was fantastic to see so many people join in the 9pm Toast and raise a
glass in particular to members of the NHS. The initiative will continue
across social media channels so please feel free to join us online to
raise a glass to those who are not able to be with their families and
loved ones at this time.”
The 9pm toast will take place regularly over the coming weeks –
please join in at @UGLE_GrandLodge as part of the national ‘get
together’ or more locally on Twitter @Cheshire PGL, Facebook
Provinceofcheshirefreemasons or Instagram at CheshirePGL.