COVID-19: Tunstead Quarry shows support for NHS heroes

Employees join in weekly Clap for Carers campaign with crescendo of horns, sirens and applause

EMPLOYEES at Tarmac’s Tunstead Quarry, near Buxton, are showing their support for the NHS by joining in with the weekly 'Clap for Our Carers' campaign to recognize and celebrate those working on the front line during the coronavirus pandemic.

Each Thursday evening, workers are taking time out of their shift to join in with the now regular weekly applause across the country, paying tribute to those on the front line of the health service with claps and a crescendo of horns and sirens from the quarry's fleet of trucks and excavators.

Phil Shimwell, quarry operations manager at Tunstead, said: ‘Everyone knows someone who works in the health service or who has been impacted by coronavirus and the team was really keen to show their support by getting involved with the Thursday-night applause during the shift.

‘We knew no one outside the quarry would be able to hear us clapping, so decided to go all out and sound all the vehicle sirens and horns we had available as well.

‘All of us at Tunstead are very grateful to all those in the NHS along with other key workers in our local community and further afield who are helping to keep the country going through this difficult time.’

Tunstead Quarry is a nationally strategic site that is helping to support and maintain the UK's critical infrastructure. It is an important manufacturing hub for essential materials including lime, which is vital for providing the nation with clean drinking water.

As well as for the purification of water and wastewater treatment, lime is used in medical products and for the production of fertilizers and animal feed used on Britain’s farms.

The team at the quarry is working in strict accordance with government and public health guidance, so the site can continue to provide essential support to these key sectors during this time.