Page 41 - EM-Issue-90

Online Supplement

Written by David Badger
Police swoop on ‘lockdown rave’ at Saxon Hall Provincial Communications Team

... to find 80 year old’s queueing for their COVID jabs

Southend’s freemasonry centre, Saxon Hall, in
Aviation Way, opened its doors last week to NHS
front line staff, offering the building for use as a
vaccination centre in the battle against Covid19.
On the chilly opening day, the first 80yearoldplus
invitees for a jab turned up for their 8am appointments
almost an hour early, and kept coming.
Helping the queues grow even longer was the late
arrival of the actual vaccines – and then there wasn’t
enough supply to meet demand, which led to further
delays, and lengthening queues, while fresh supplies
were sourced.

And then police arrived. Chairman of Saxon Hall
Dennis Baum, pressed into willing duty as a car
park attendant, said: “They had been notified that
there was a rave taking place at Saxon Hall – only
to find 80and 90yearolds with wheelchairs, zimmer
frames and walking sticks patiently queueing for their
vaccinations.”
Dennis added that although the earlier queues had
resulted in a few grumpy old men and women,
“as a balancing act, many more very appreciative
people couldn’t have been more grateful to receive
the vaccine, and thanked Saxon Hall and Essex
freemasons for providing the venue”.

In the days following, local voluntary organisations,
including the Leigh Lions, Community Police and
OneLove Soup Kitchen Southend, made queueing a
lot more comfortable for those awaiting the vaccine
by providing gazebo shelters, hot drinks, blankets and
wheelchairs, as well as helping with steward duties
and providing refreshments for the hardworking NHS
staff.