FLYING THE FLAG BUT FOR WHOM - THE NHS OR THEIR OWN GREATER GLORY?

The Knoll - set to play host as VIPs fly the flag

A LUNCHTIME get-together  beckons for North East Lincolnshire Council chiefs  and military VIPs at The Knoll in Cleethorpes on Wednesday.

They will be gathering for a ‘ceremony’  in which naval flags will be raised at the Remembrance Gate at 1pm.

The event is being publicised by NELC's communications team on behalf of the Armed Forces Major Events Team.

According to a NELC spokesperson, the event will "signify official recognition of the outstanding efforts made by the NHS across the region since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic".

The main man will be Commodore Phil Waterhouse, Naval Regional Commander for Northern England and Isle of Man

Royal Navy and Royal Marines, with other military officers, will also be in attendance.

Representing NELC will be its chief executive, Rob Walsh, plus its leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, deputy mayor Cllr David Hasthorpe and  Cllr Ron Shepherd.

Also in the limelight will be the chief executive of the Armed Forces Major Events Team - Alex Baxter.

Surprisingly, there is no word of invitations being offered to any local representatives of the very organisation purportedly being 'recognised' - the NHS. 

The council insists there will be "social distancing" at Wednesday's event.

The proceedings will also feature a ‘meet our veterans' chinwag - also subject to social distancing restrictions.

It is not known if either of the two local MPs has been invited or will be present.        

Remembrance Gate - flag-hoisting ceremony on Wednesday

The Grimsby News says: Truth be told, this is probably just a virtue-signalling junket - funded by the council taxpayer - where civic and armed forces dignitaries will rub elbows and showboat for any print or broadcast media hoodwinked into showing up by the NELC press release. The fact that no healthcare workers seem to have been invited speaks volumes. The NHS is not being 'recognised' - let alone honoured - it is being patronised. Those bigwigs who choose to attend on Wednesday would be worthy of more respect if, instead of  posturing, hobnobbing and hoisting flags, they rolled up their sleeves and put in a few unpaid shifts cleaning the floors, portering patients, filing records and carrying out other unsung but vitally important works at Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital or, indeed,  any local health clinic or GP surgery.