The unsung heroes who help keep Westside functioning smoothly and safely throughout the year were treated to a special breakfast as a ‘thank you’ for their efforts.
The Annual Blue Collar Christmas Breakfast aims to recognise the hard work of the police, paramedics, estate management teams, cleaners, city pastors, builders and street wardens in the district.
Their efforts drew even more praise this year after they continued to work on site during the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in two full national lockdowns and ongoing Tier 3 restrictions.
Those restrictions meant the 15th Annual Blue Collar Christmas Breakfast, organised by Westside BID, could not be held in one of Broad Street’s many pubs and restaurants as in previous years.
Instead, the English breakfast meal was served as a takeaway at the Grosvenor Casino on Broad Street between 9am and 10am on Thursday 17 December.
And, in keeping with the times, the event fully complied with coronavirus restrictions, with face masks worn by BID staff and social distancing in place throughout.
Up to 100 blue-collar workers queued up in a safe and orderly fashion as they were served hot breakfast rolls, drinks and a selection of chocolates as a gesture of goodwill for the festive season.
And the Christmas spirit was maintained with a real-life jolly Santa Claus and BID staff dressed as elves.
Matthew Rudd, a BID director and general manager of the Grosvenor Casino in Broad Street, said he was delighted to host the breakfast, having regularly assisted the community during the pandemic.
He said: “The casino provides takeaway lunches during the week for key workers such as the NHS, local police, fire service, paramedics, local charities and anyone else that we can help.”
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “I was pleased to see so many of our blue-collar workers turn up for our breakfast takeaway and they were incredibly appreciative.
“The blue-collar workers are a crucial element to our community and the UK economy, so it was indeed a pleasure to serve them in this way.”
A video of the event was created by Westside’s videographer Jas Sansi and can be viewed here:
By Luisa Huggins
