A Special Cover For Our Front Line Heroes: 'In Times Of Crisis, We Find Heroes Everywhere'

As I write this letter, the streets are empty. There are queues a quarter of a mile long outside our supermarkets. Flour and toilet rolls have become rare luxury goods, while the world now wears a strange, ominous uniform of gloves, mask and a nervous smile.

This is not a world we know. Neither is it a time we could have predicted. Over the past few months, we have all experienced moments that seem more akin to a sci-fi novel than real life: deserted motorways, house parties held via a computer screen and conference-calling platforms becoming a social lifeline for us all.

We have all been challenged, some more than most, and have most likely wondered if life will be the same once this is all over… which of course it won’t. Businesses will stumble and fall. People and livelihoods will be lost. We will never look upon a simple handshake in the same way.

But there is also much that will have changed for the better. Small things – almost imperceptible really – but there nevertheless. Never again will we take a walk for granted. Or skip a phone call to a loved one. And we will never, ever, roll our eyes when we’re invited on a night out. Yet perhaps the greatest thing we will have learnt through all of this is that there lies true heroism within us all.

That’s been the real boon among the chaos: the wondrous unfurling of people’s kindness and bravery. Notes tied to doors and bins with ‘THANK YOU’ scribbled across them. Neighbours who have emptied their cupboards to provide for others. Even on the track where I walk my dogs, someone has painstakingly removed every gate lock to protect those who tread its path.

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But perhaps the real heroes are those we see every day. The supermarket workers, delivery drivers, care home attendants and pharmacists who have found themselves on a front line they never thought they would. NHS workers enter a profession where bravery is a prerequisite and for that we hold them dear. But those individuals who must keep the rest of the country going? This is a battle they did not sign up for, yet they keep fighting regardless.

Which is why we asked you to tell us about the women who are fighting this invisible war, day in, day out. We wanted to know about anyone who puts themselves out there, so the rest of us can safely stay inside. Within 24 hours, you gave us hundreds of names, seven of whom featured on special ELLE digital covers.

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There are so many stories to share: the woman who voluntarily went into isolation with her sick aunt to help look after her children. The nursing home assistant who cares for the country’s most vulnerable. The new mother who gets up at 4am for work to make sure every shop shelf is stocked before returning to her 12-month-old baby. The supermarket manager who, despite suffering from crippling anxiety, stands at the door of her store to take the frustration her customers throw at her. ‘You want to tell them you’re scared and anxious too,’ she told me. ‘But you can’t.’

So, to celebrate those nominated, we’ve printed their names here. Read them, remember them, thank them. But, most of all, be grateful that, in a crisis, we have heroes like these on our side.

To All Our Front Line Heroes:

Aimee Dyer NHS communications manager

Alex Wing Biomedical scientist

Alice Dunn Support worker

Alice Harnett Cardiac nurse

Alice Hodges Dairy farmer

Alison Brown Teacher

Alison Smith Secretary redeployed to wards

Allison Edwards Pharmacy dispenser

Amanda Chapman Samaritans worker

Amanda McCormack TB nurse

Amelia Antill Speech and language therapist

Amelia White Doctor

Ami Nicholson NHS speech therapist

Amy Knight Chemotherapy nurse

Amy Pollard Oncology nurse

Angela Fernandez Charity worker

Angela Puddicombe Ward clerk

Ania Sabet A&E doctor

Anisha Patel Pharmacist

Anna Kench Nurse

Anna Ribton Ward sister

Anna Truesdale Dairy farmer

Anthea Allen Intensive care nurse

April White Biomedical scientist

Ashleigh Bellwood Intensive care nurse

Ashley Nicholson Ward sister

Benedict Jakoto Intensive care practitioner

Bethany Gilsenan Nurse

Bethany Stark Nurse at Nightingale Hospital

Billie Coverly Children’s respiratory nurse

Brigid Dundon Nurse

Brittany Fleming Nurse

Bryony Findley Supermarket worker

Carmel Gibson Care assistant

Caroline Mallandain Supermarket manager

Catherine Fahey Nurse

Catherine Moriarty Senior research sister

Catriona Dolan-Lawson Teacher

Charlotte Banki Acting sister

Charlotte Dovey Teacher

Charlotte Harwood Haematology matron

Charlotte Marro Rough sleeping commissioning officer

Charlotte Turner Intensive care deputy sister

Chelsea Thomas-Hamblin Midwife

Chloe Preston Biomedical scientist

Christine Brooks NHS advisor

Claire Flynn A&E nurse

Clara Smith Surgical trainee

Cora Marnell Midwife

Cory Moyna Critical care nurse

Daniela Mendoza Student doctor

Danielle Hake Research midwife

Danielle Pugh Cancer team coordinator

Danielle Vasili Paediatric nurse

Dee Scepanovic Nurse

Denise Gomez Anaesthetist

Derryn Atkins Ambulance care assistant

Diana Stavrou Consultant radiologist

Dimitra Mistakidis Doctor

Elaine Cruickshanks Supermarket worker

Eleanor Garvey Head of operations for care provider

Elinor Roberts Registrar of births and marriages

Elise Aitchison GP

Elizabeth Gonzalez Vasquez Doctor

Elizabeth Victor Palliative care nurse

Emerson Hatch Intensive care nursing assistant

Emily Deeley Supermarket manager

Emily Hepple Supermarket manager

Emily Lavery Teen cancer unit nurse

Emily Parker Social worker

Emily Wood Teacher

Emma Brown Theatre scheduling officer

Emma Miller Corona care challenge fundraiser

Emma-Louise Victoria Lambert Nurse

Erinn Cahill Supermarket worker

Fabiana Tatangelo Doctor

Farrah Idris Daly Complementary therapist

Felicity Saunders Clinical psychologist

Fern Taylor Pharmacy counter assistant

Ffiôn Thomas-Dyer Shop assistant

Fiona Harrison Police officer

Folusha Oluwajana GP

Frances Stonebank Intensive care worker

Frankie Jackson-Spence Doctor

Gagandeep Kaur Doctor

Gail Arpesella Live-in carer

Gaynell Lyons Police officer

Georgia Hayman TfL customer service supervisor

Gill Keighley Teaching assistant

Grace Beegan Diagnostic radiographer

Grace Nolan Nurse

Haley Sample Nurse

Hannah Cheetham Pharmacist

Hannah Elkadi Doctor

Hannah Gadsby Nurse

Hannah Lane Funeral director

Hannah Leney Intensive care nurse

Hannah McGrath Nurse

Hannah Pratt Delivery driver

Harlene Kithoray Pharmacist

Hayley Willo Teacher

Hazel Murape Support worker

Helin Taylor School chef

Hollie Murray Student nurse

Holly Elvin Teacher

Jade C Williams Nurse

Jamie Docherty Clinical nurse specialist

Jamie Landesberg Corona care challenge fundraiser

Jane Currier Paramedic

Janet Jardine Hospital cleaner

Jemimah Masters GP

Jenni Kelly Paramedic

Jennie Tollerton Nurse

Jess Keighley Supermarket worker

Jillian Svoboda Nurse