A DELIGHTED museums manager has been shortlisted for a coveted award in recognition of her hard work during the height of the Covid pandemic.

Colchester Museums manager, Pippa Pickles, has made it to the final six nominees in the covid special recognition award in the 2021 Museums and Heritage Awards.

The awards celebrate the leading lights and institutions in the museums and heritage sector across the world.

The challenges of the global pandemic have inspired the creation of two new award categories, and it is in one of these that Pippa has been shortlisted.

Amongst stiff competition and hundreds of nominations, the Colchester Museums manager has made it to the final six nominees in the covid special recognition award.

The nomination recognises Pippa’s contribution to the pandemic by not only opening Colchester Castle safely following the first lockdown, but for all her hard work in leading Colchester Council’s team in supporting the NHS vaccination programme.

Alongside her core museums work, she led the non-clinical team – made up of colleagues, partners and volunteers – for Colchester’s mass vaccination centre.

The team supported the NHS by utilising their combined skills to limit queuing, facilitating social distancing and ensuring that those receiving vaccinations felt welcomed and safe.

Working long days at the vaccination centre and overseeing Colchester Museums re-opening plans, Pippa worked tirelessly to help her community despite contracting Covid-19 early in the pandemic.

Adrian Pritchard, chief executive of Colchester Council, said: “This is a well-deserved recognition for a member of my team who put her community and their wellbeing first in the worst crisis we have seen in recent years. Pippa and her team alongside partners, colleagues and volunteers, have all worked long days and evenings whilst continuing their jobs to help our local community. We are immensely proud of her contribution to Colchester’s residents.

“Pippa is one of many colleagues across the council who has worked tirelessly and gone the extra mile to work on Covid-related projects alongside their day-to-day roles – all contributing to Colchester’s recovery and the welfare of our residents.”