We at HVP wanted to celebrate the efforts of those individuals working in the plumbing and heating industry who are making a difference during the coronavirus crisis and have launched HVP Heroes to highlight some of their stories.
Alan Perkins
Alan Perkins is helping to create full face visors for a local hospital.
He says that, by using a lot of pipe lagging, he is making lots of visors for Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, with the help of materials from Jim Tate at NMC, Wickes, and City Plumbing in Minworth.
He has created a video demonstrating how to make them, which can be viewed here:
CSO Heating
Chris O’Keefe of CSO Heating has said that his firm has offered NHS staff free boiler services and electrical tests, as well as charging them only for materials on heating and electrical repairs.
He said several NHS staff members had taken CSO up on the offer already, and the free servicing would take place after the lockdown ends.
Ian Harvey
Steve Botson of Great Yarnmouth Heating Company nominated his employee Ian Harvey. Normally the company’s Contracts Supervisor, Ian has been back on the tools during the pandemic to help out.
Steve says that all the firm’s customers have been very thankful for Ian’s thorough cleaning procedures on every job and have felt totally at ease, even when he arrives in his PPE, including full-face respirator with P3 filter.
Ian has also stepped up to single-handedly provide the firm’s 24-7 out of hours service while others in the business have been furloughed.
Stuart Lee
Nominated by colleagues, Stuart Lee is Joy Services Group’s on-call engineer.
Due to coronavirus, the company’s entire engineer workforce was furloughed aside from Stu, who volunteered to cover all emergency work the company offers during the lockdown. He is still is going out into the local community to repair boilers, heating systems, and complete essential gas safety inspections.
RWW Plumbing and Heating
Robert Watson says his firm RWW has turned its charitable endeavours towards the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic and, with the help of the community, has so far donated 10,500 hand creams, 7,500 shower gels, hundreds of Easter eggs, and over 3,000 boxes of chocolate to staff at local hospitals in Surrey. They also plan to deliver 500 chocolate boxes to other key workers.
Anonymous
A reader contacted us asking to keep his story anonymous.
One of his customers, an elderly gentleman who has mobility issues and lives alone, reached out to him to say his social care support had disappeared. He asked for help as he had no food at home.
The engineer managed to get him most of what he needed, and since then has been keeping in touch with him twice a week and supplying him with whatever he needs.
When the elderly gentleman asked what the cost was, the engineer told him that he wasn’t charging him anything, as any other person would do the same.
Although he expected no reward for his actions, the elderly gentleman gifted him a brand new body warmer as thanks.
Winston Davis
Heating engineer Winston Davis has been offering free emergency repairs for elderly people isolating during the coronavirus pandemic.
The owner of Avenue Heating said he wanted to help after witnessing communities come together during the coronavirus outbreak.
As many older people have been unable to leave their properties, Winston thought about what he could do to help.
At the time of writing, he has been on at least 10 jobs where he has repaired emergency problems in the homes of elderly people.
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