* Maldon saw a number of celebrations of the first NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers' Day yesterday (Monday, 5 July), including Maldon District Council's event below.

• Maldon teenager Freddie Joslin tells of his pride at playing the Last Post in the district council ceremony (see below).

• Maldon Town Council and Maldon Masonic Lodge marked the occasion with a ceremony and two minute silence in Maldon High Street – you can read about that here

• Morrison's in Maldon held a celebratory afternoon tea in the store to give thanks to some of those who kept food pantries going in Maldon and the Dengie Peninsula during the pandemic (see story below)

• Churches across the district rang their bells 73 times at 8pm to commemorate the 73 years of the NHS. You can find a video of that from St Mary's Church in Burnham-on-Crouch here

Flag-raising ceremony and silence at Maldon District Council offices on the day we all thanked the NHS

NHS frontline workers and members of the emergency services gathered at Maldon District Council's offices for a special ceremony to mark NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers' Day.

Vice Chair of the council, Councillor Carlie Mayes, raised the NHS flag - created to celebrate the day nationally - at the offices in Princes Road, Maldon.

The day, which is held on the 73rd birthday of the NHS, began with the service being awarded the George Cross by Her Majesty the Queen.

As can be seen in the video here, the Last Post - played by 15-year-old Plume Academy student Freddie Joslin - was followed by a two-minute silence where all those workers who have been lost during the pandemic were remembered.

Freddie, who plans to study music at Colchester Institute when he leaves Plume Academy, said: "I am honoured to have been chosen to play at such a distinguished event. My nan was a nurse all her life so it reminds me of her and everything she did for the community.

"And my dad is also an essential worker, so it also means a lot to him, so I am really proud to have taken part. I would also like to give a massive thank you to refuse collectors and postal workers, who have often been overlooked during the pandemic."

Executive Principal of Plume Academy, Carl Wakefield, spoke of his pride at Freddie taking part in the event and described him as "a fine young man".

Maldon Morrison's afternoon 'thank you' tea for some of the food pantry volunteers who put themselves on the front line during the Covid-19 crisis – and continue to do so

Maldon Morrison's held a celebration afternoon tea to thank some of those who the district's food pantries and food support going during the pandemic.

Brad and Jill, who run the Dengie Pantry, and Rob and Debbie, from the Maldon Pantry, joined Julie Taylor, who runs the Café at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon for the event at the store in Wycke Hill yesterday (Monday, 5 July).

They were joined by Maldon Town Councillors Carlie Mayes and Flo Shaughnessy and her husband, Terry.

Maldon Morrison's community worker Kathy, who arranged the event, said: "This has been to thank some of then people who kept the food pantries and supplies going through the pandemic. Their work has been truly amazing."