George Cross To Tour The Nation To Mark NHS 75th Birthday

THE George Cross medal, awarded to the NHS in England last year by the late Queen, is set to tour the nation from July, the head of the NHS announced. As part of the NHS birthday celebrations, the UK's highest civilian gallantry medal will be displayed in Science Museums across England, after it was bestowed on staff for their exceptional efforts, particularly during the Pandemic. It was only the 3rd time ever in British history the medal has been granted to an organisation for an act of great heroism.

NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard and May Parsons, a matron for respiratory services who delivered the world's 1st approved Covid vaccination, received the honour on behalf of the NHS by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Windsor Castle last July.

Now, to mark the milestone 75th Anniversary, the cross, which is currently kept at Windsor Castle, will go on tour to allow staff and patients to view the historic accolade.

From Thursday, 6 July 2023, the medal will be on display at the iconic Science Museum, in London, as a temporary addition to Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries, the world's largest museum devoted to the history of medical healthcare.

The medal will be able to be viewed in the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester from February 2024 before going to the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford from July. It will then visit the South West in 2025, with the venue to be confirmed in due course.

The George Cross award recognises the:- "courage, compassion and dedication" of NHS staff and volunteers, during the Pandemic as well as the work of the NHS since it was established in 1948.

Announcing the tour, Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of the NHS in England said:- "For 75 years, NHS staff have served our country – this year's Anniversary is an opportunity to reiterate our thanks to them, as well as to celebrate the history and achievements of the NHS, from the 1st organ transplants through to mass vaccination programmes which have saved thousands of lives. We were honoured to receive the George Cross from the late Queen on behalf of the NHS and I am delighted that; through our partnership with the Science Museum Group – NHS staff, volunteers and local communities will get to see the medal up close."

May Parsons, a matron for respiratory services at Buckinghamshire Trust who delivered the world's 1st Covid vaccination in December 2020, said:- "I was humbled and honoured to receive the George Cross, alongside Amanda, on behalf of the NHS and I am delighted it will be going on a tour during the NHS's 75th year for staff, volunteers and the public to see. The George Cross is a truly fitting tribute to thousands of NHS staff and volunteers who went above and beyond during the Pandemic and continue to do so every day."

Natasha McEnroe, Keeper of Medicine, Science Museum said:- "It is a real honour to display The George Cross in our museums in recognition of the dedication of NHS staff caring for patients during the Pandemic and to this day. Visitors to the Science Museum will see The George Cross beside items celebrating the NHS's 75-year history and nearby objects collected during the Pandemic to represent the impact of Covid19 on our lives."

The award's official citation praised staff for their fight against Covid in what it called:- "the greatest public health emergency in the organisation's history."

Chris Bell, Paramedic and Team Leader with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, who attended the 1st Covid patient in the UK, said:- "When we attended those patients in York in January 2020, none of us knew what was about to unfold as the Covid Pandemic hit; our priority was to treat those patients just as we would any other. Uncertainty is part of our job, responding to patients when they need us; it's something that the ambulance service and NHS does every day and it is something that I am very proud to be a part of."

The award, created in 1940, sits at the top of the UK honour's system joint with the military Victoria Cross and is the highest civilian gallantry award. It is given for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.

The decision to award it to the NHS was only the 3rd time the George Cross has been given to a collective body, rather than an individual. It was previously awarded to Malta in 1942 and to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1999.

Over ½ of Brits move away from Traditional English Breakfast Tea as their preferred blend

DESPITE the Nation's long standing love of English Breakfast Tea, new research reveals ahead of National Tea Day,that was held on 21 April 2023, that Brits are moving away from tradition with 55% opting for a herbal like green tea or Rooibos, or other leaf based teas like Earl Grey, as their preferred choice of blend.

The findings, based on 2086 consumers, come just 3 weeks before the King's Coronation and marks a shift away from the Traditional English Breakfast tea which has always been widely regarded as the UK's hot favourite, accounting for 85% of sales in 2019 according to a Unilever report.

This year's research into Brits' tea drinking habits by global tea specialists, The Tea Group, found that 55% of the nation now prefers a herbal brew with 22% choosing a green tea such as Matcha, and 11% picking a rooibos, ginger, peppermint, chamomile or fruit tea as their blend of choice. The remaining 22% chose Earl Grey or picked:- 'other' for their tea, other than Traditional English Breakfast.

54% like to take their tea in the morning with milk. A quarter like it rich and malty, and 15% prefer aromatic and herbaceous, all made directly in a mug for most people (68%) as we opt for convenience over complexity. However, 20% agreed that the traditional way to serve tea; using loose leaves, served in a china cup and poured from a teapot; still makes the perfect brew.

Drinking a cup an hour... And it's not just a cuppa a day. The Tea Group found that Brits are now drinking a sizable amount with 47% of the population consuming up to 5 cups a day, while 27% drink between 6 to 10 cups of tea a day which is around 1 brew an hour during the average working day.

46% of consumers use teatime as a chance to socialise with others, 37% see it as an opportunity for some:- 'me time,' while the majority (87%) say that tea makes them feel:- 'calm and relaxed' or:- 'comforted.' In fact, 27% of people drink tea purely for their wellbeing with 38% drinking tea for both wellness and taste. And there are some traditions that Brits are sticking to, with biscuit, cake or sandwich the nation's top three favourite foods to accompany their tea.

Commenting on the research, Díaz Ayub, Managing Director at The Tea Group, said:- "It is wonderful to see how Brits are embracing the range of artisan tea, cold brews and herbal varieties available today. The Traditional English Breakfast Tea has been a staple part of UK culture for centuries, and remains so for 45% of the tea lovers we surveyed. However, our findings reveal that the future of tea is much more diverse with a new generation of tea drinkers who are moving beyond the traditional brew to embrace a mixology of teas that inspire health and happiness."

60% of Brits drink tea from Primary School age... The findings from The Tea Group also found that 60% start drinking tea from a Primary School age. A third had their 1st cuppa before the age of 7, and 16% were 5 or below.

Diaz continued:- "As our research shows, teatime is either:- 'me time' or an experience which brings people together to create memorable moments. It's something to celebrate as a nation which is why we founded National Tea Day. Tea plays a role in so many cultures and can be enjoyed in so many ways, and we're seeing this in the UK with more tea-lovers pairing various teas with different types of food. Try succulent scallops with Japanese Gyokuro tea served in a wine glass, or pistachio macaron with milky Oolong tea, or the traditional shepherd's pie is great with an English Breakfast tea. It's a drink that offers a world of opportunity for trying fresh delights and our study shows that Brits' taste for tea is stronger than ever."

‘Self Tea' charity appeal... As part of National Tea Day, The Tea Group, has also launched its:- 'Self Tea' charity appeal in partnership with award winning British artist, David Arnott. The Tea Group is asking for members of the public to send in:- 'selfies' raising a cup of their favourite tea as a toast to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The selfies will be collated in a mosaic piece, capturing iconic moments from her reign and British history. Once completed, the artwork will be auctioned, with all proceeds going to its charity partner, Great Ormond Street Hospital. To get involved, simply visit the National Tea Group Instagram page.

Tea and Food Pairing Tips from Díaz Ayub, Managing Director, at The Tea Group:-

• A rich savoury Shepherd's pie can be perfectly paired with an English Breakfast tea. Definitely without milk, but with a hint of honey and served in a wine glass.
   

• A humble peppermint tea with a buttery shortbread biscuit for a:- "melt in your mouth" murray mint like pairing.
   

• Risotto alla Milanese has a creamy texture which can be harmoniously uplifted by pairing with a complex and aromatic, malty Masala chai.
   

• Stilton cheese paired with Chinese Da Hong Pao tea.
   

• Elevate the classic cream cheese and cucumber sandwich by pairing with a humble green tea.