A POPULAR and much-loved man who is an icon of the Tilbury community has recorded a moving tribute to the NHS.

Les Morgan, now retired after a lifetime working at the Port of Tilbury, is a stalwart of his local community, particularly through his work with the Tilbury Riverside Project which organises the town's Christmas Lights and the Tilbury on the Thames Trust among other projects.

His work for the town was recognised earlier this year in the Thurrock Civic Awards when Les was honoured by winning the Creative Excellence award.

Les gets local people to come together through creative, cultural and heritage projects and examples include a local school project to build a 17-foot puppet of a dock worker, where he worked tirelessly with the children. Many local young people took part in the Tilbury carnival thanks to Les and his amazing community spirit, connecting with all the dance schools and community groups. His enthusiasm was infectious and people just wanted to be involved.

Les also comperes and has a band that performs at community events.

His musical and creative talents have now come to the fore with a moving tribute to the NHS.

Les tells how the inspirational carers in the service looked after his mother - and how he so much admires the work they are doing now to combat coronavirus.

Les tells of his motivation in our emotional video clip (Click on the picture link above) - and, by the way - he's not Harry Redknap.

If you would like to see more of Les you can view his recollections of life on the docks via this link.

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