THE weekly show of support for NHS and care workers has taken a new turn in West Auckland, thanks to the efforts of a dale-based family-run transport firm.
For the past four Thursdays, wagons from the Frank Hudson Transport fleet have motored from their base in Etherley through West Auckland with lights flashing and horns blaring as residents line the route clapping and banging pots and pans.
Each week, the event has encouraged ever increasing numbers of residents to come out of their homes and take part in the show of support.
Transport manager Craig Hudson said his father Frank came up with the idea of sending the wagons rolling as the company's way of saying thank-you to the NHS.
Mr Hudson said it was also a chance to help boost morale and help put a smile on people’s faces during a difficult time.
“We are all in the same boat,” he said.
Among those lining the route last Thursday was little Francis Fenwick in his own specially built truck.
Mam Roxanne said she had commissioned the small-scale working model of a wagon for her son’s first birthday and when the Frank Hudson trucks began coming through the village, they were among the first to come out.
“What they are doing is very good,” she said.
Mr Hudson said like many other businesses, the company had been affected by the coronavirus lockdown.
“To begin with we were busy as everyone wanted their deliveries and then it went really quiet,” he said.
“We don’t do food – we do building supplies and car parts etc. Last week, two of our main customers came back, so we are creeping back.”
Meanwhile, the convoy will again be out showing support for the NHS and carers on Thursday evening just after 8pm.
