Habs' Boys' School in Elstree honoured for work during pandemic

Dr Raja Amjid Riaz, an NHS consultant surgeon at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, visited The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree this week to thank them for the work they did to protect hospital staff.

During the first lockdown, head of design and technology Simon Vincent and housemaster Tom Hardman and their team produced thousands of face visors which were distributed to staff at various hospital trusts.

Care homes, funeral directors, cemeteries, and charities also received personal protective equipment Habs' was able to create.

Dr Riaz, who was seconded to Mid and South Essex NHS Trust during the pandemic, says the visors helped filled a shortage of PPE during the first wave, and a year on, he wanted to show his gratitude to Habs'.

Dr Riaz did this by visiting the private school on Thursday to hand over medals of appreciation.

The medal handed to The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School

He said: "Mid and South Essex NHS Trust and the whole region would like to thank and congratulate the school and especially Simon Vincent and Tom Hardman and their team for the great work that they have done. This was a monumental effort by the school to help regionally during such difficult times.

"It is this selflessness and positive can do attitude that can get us out of this pandemic quickly and back to some form of normality."

Mr Hardman said: "I thank Dr Riaz for his recognition of our efforts but it's important to state that he too played an important part in distributing the visors.

"It was a truly team effort and I would like to thank the whole team for their hard work and effort."

Gus Locke headmaster, added: "This work reflects the school's positive and make a difference attitude. We are delighted we could help."