THE Town Mayor, town councillors and local Freemasons observed a two minute silence in Maldon's busy High Street this morning (Monday, 5 July), to honour the NHS, social care and all those working on the front line.

The national day of tribute, celebration and thanks is to those who have saved so many lives during the pandemic - and to remember those workers who have sadly been lost. The day chosen is the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the NHS.

The new NHS flag created for the occasion was raised at the Moot Hall this morning, and Lt Jon Doyle of Maldon Salvation Army played the Last Post at 11am from the balcony. Many people in the High Street stopped and paid their respects as well.

Earlier in the morning, local Freemason had gathered at the Maldon lodge in Cromwell Hill, where an NHS banner has been placed, to observe two minutes silence and then applaud the work of the the service and all frontline workers during the pandemic. Many members of the lodge have served as volunteers at the Maldon vaccination hub and to support the programme locally.

Other events are taking place in Maldon and across the district and more reports of these will follow.