FLAGS at the Moot Hall and Maldon District Council's offices will be raised on Monday (5 July) to celebrate the very first NHS, Social Care and Front Line Workers Day.

The NHS was born 73 years ago on 5 July 1948 which is

the date has been chosen in 2021 to celebrate a unique day dedicated to honouring the NHS, social care workers and all those who work on the front line - and who have worked so tirelessly to keep our communities going and save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The celebration will also remember all those workers sadly lost to the virus. It is planned that this becomes an annual day of thanks.

At 10am, a specially designed flag will be raised at the Moot Hall in High Street, Maldon, to signal the official start of the

day's celebrations and will be left flying for seven days. A £5

donation from every flag bought will be donated to NHS Charities Together and the National Care Association.

Then at 11am, a bugler will play the Last Post from the balcony of the Moot Hall and a two-minute silence will be held in the High Street to remember the men and women from the NHS, social care and other key services who have lost their lives in the service of others. This will be led by the Town Mayor and councillors at the War Memorial.

[H2]Maldon District Council Offices will also see a flag raising ceremony and silence.[H2]

At the same time, a ceremony will be held at Maldon District Council's offices in Princes Road, Maldon, to mark the occasion on behalf of the whole district.

Councillor Carlie Mayes, Vice-Chairman of Maldon District Council, will be raising the NHS, Social Care and Frontline Services Flag to highlight the dedication of all those through the Covid-19 pandemic.

A spokesperson for Maldon District Council said: "We will observe a national two minutes silence at 11am as we remember those who have died during the pandemic.

"A variety of NHS and Frontline Workers will join us to mark this occasion."

At 1pm, there will be a Nation's Toast to the Heroes, when the county is asked to pause and raise a glass and join in the Nation's Toast, which will be as follows: "To those who gave so much, 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the NHS, social care and on the front line, we thank and salute you".

At 8pm, people across the country are invited to clap for the NHS and social care heroes in the street - and to coincide with this, the church bell in the town will ring 73 times -

one ring for every year of the NHS.