Page 48 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

his father’s contacts at the Rotary Club Manager at the Nottingham City Hospital
of Melton Mowbray, who showed their Burns Unit (below), extended her thanks,
support by funding the fi lament for his saying: “The donations were so welcomed
3D printer. Ratcliffe also loaned their and very much appreciated. The team
OR NEWS a more streamlined process. Headmaster like to send their thanks for delivering
have been informed, and they would also
school printer, allowing James to create
this equipment to us. Donations such as
Jon Reddin said: “The school community
is extremely proud of the initiative that
that members of the public support us in
James has shown in this project, together this help us get through the day, knowing
with his compassion to help others at this our work.”
diffi cult time.” Thanks to a JustGiving
campaign, coupled with a donation from
the Ratcliffe Parents’ Association, James
was able to purchase additional supplies
and another three printers, enabling
Dan Amies (10): “As a specialist him to produce around 300 shields per
geographic offi cer within the Royal day. Ratcliffe also extended its thanks
Engineers, having completed an MSc to the Provincial Grand Lodge Charity
in Geospatial Intelligence at the Royal Fund Trustees, who donated a further
School of Military Survey, I was deployed 3D printer to James’ efforts, which will
under Operation Rescript, the Ministry later be donated to Ratcliffe’s Design and
of Defence’s response to the pandemic, Technology Department. The shields were
to Skipton House in London. There, I distributed to the Queen’s Medical Centre
provided strategic decision-making in Nottingham, as well as care homes in
support to the Project Nightingale team the Leicester and Melton Mowbray areas,
within NHS England. With my geographic and to front-line workers, such as fi rst
technician soldiers, we provided advice on responders and district nurses. Meanwhile, many more Ratcliffe staff
where to site the Nightingale hospitals. members and students helped to support
This was achieved through a combination local key workers and front-line staff in the
of multi-criteria analysis and service area NHS during lockdown. The Linnett family
mapping, overlaid onto population density, produced PPE together; George (Year 13)
population density of over 64s, and multi- and Sam (Year 11) were in charge of 3D
deprivation index mapping. This identifi ed printing, while Grace (Year 8) and Anna
locations for Nightingale hospitals which (Year 5) attached the sheeting to make
would provide the best coverage, without the visors. Their fi rst batch was delivered
wasting fi nancial, personnel, and material to their uncle, Ben O’Connor (98), who
resources. Crucially, it identifi ed to the works as a GP in Leicestershire, with more
trusts those areas which could not be supplies going to the Leicester Royal
covered, enabling them to focus their Infi rmary and Leicester General Hospital.
efforts carefully. It was insightful and Alex Davison (Year 12) also manufactured
rewarding to be part of this planning Ratcliffe’s Head of Design and Technology, visors at home using his very own 3D
at a national level, where I also had the Adam Seth, and Head of Mathematics, printer, which were then sent on to Mr
opportunity to brief the Chief of Defence Gary Higham, joined forces with James Dziemianko, who donated them to his
Staff. I am aware that I had a very different Howling to increase the production of mother’s nursing home. Zara (Year 7) and
(dare I say enjoyable) experience during PPE within the College. Over 250 visors Tilly Etty (Year 4) made fabric headbands
the pandemic, compared to most. I am were produced by Mr Seth (below) during for nurses, which attach to their masks and
humbled by the sacrifi ces, pains, risks, and the Easter period, many of which were make them much more comfortable to wear
hardships endured by all, but particularly delivered to Nottingham City Hospital for long shifts. They also made fabric bags
by those in the NHS and on the front line. by Mr Higham, along with 58 pairs of for nurses to wash their uniforms in, and
My thoughts go out to those who have safety goggles, donated by the Science sent them to Glenfi eld Hospital. Ratcliffe
been seriously affected.” Department. Debbie Raynor, Ward staff member Penny Smith also did her bit
by making headbands for nurses, which
were sent to Leicester General Hospital.
A dedicated former Ratcliffe student, Headmaster Jon Reddin said: “I am so very
James Howling (20), supported the grateful to everyone who has been working
incredible work of the heroic NHS workers fl at out to produce PPE for local hospitals
by making essential PPE equipment at and care homes, as have many members
home on his own 3D printer, using skills of the public and companies at this vital
acquired at Ratcliffe. He started the time in this pandemic. The work they are
initiative as part of a group called 3D doing is phenomenal.” After setting up a
Crowd, which had approximately 5,000 JustGiving page, Old Ratcliffi ans from far
members and received orders for over and wide donated to help fund the Ratcliffe
300,000 shields during the fi rst few community’s efforts in supporting vital key
months. The project was a real collaboration workers during this terrible time.
effort, with James working closely with
48 The Old Ratcliffi an 2020