Downham West Parish Council receives plaque for community Covid work from Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk

Downham West Parish Council (DWPC) is one of many communities across the county which pulled together during the pandemic whose work is being recognised with a lasting memorial.

DWPC received a plaque at its annual meeting on Monday by Mr Nicholas Pratt, one of the Deputy Lieutenants for Norfolk and a former High Sheriff of the county.

Lady Dannatt, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Norfolk, has commissioned a plaque for every parish and town council in the county using the design skills of Ruby Douglass and the wording from a team at Norwich’s National Centre for Writing.

It is anticipated that the plaque will be installed near to the war memorial in Salters Lode once suitable arrangements are made.

The cost of the project has been covered by generous sponsorship from Adnams, the Red Socks Charitable Trust, the Geoffrey Watling Charity, the Pennycress Trust, the Kip and Alison Bertram Trust and the Sybil Cholmondeley Trust.

Lady Dannatt said: “Many of the Deputy Lieutenants in Norfolk experienced at first hand the work of their local community during the height of the pandemic.

"A small group of them came together for this project and have worked through every stage to this point where every parish and town council can now receive their plaque and I am very grateful for their time and commitment.”

Deputy Lieutenants closest to each parish or town will distribute the plaques over the coming months.

Ruby, who is a recent graduate from Norwich University of the Arts, said: “The design relies heavily on the lettering traditionally associated with memorialising events and people. The style of lettering and shape of the plaque were chosen as a visual way to celebrate the community overcoming such a difficult year.”

The team at Norwich’s National Centre for Writing, led by Chris Gribble, researched a number of options and finally put forward the inspiring words of the Norfolk-born sociologist, Harriet Martineau: ‘Live your best and act your best and think your best today.’

Parish and town councils which have not made an application for a plaque already, should email: Wellbeing@NorfolkALC.gov.uk