'NOT all heroes wear capes' – is a message we are hearing more and more as the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate our lives.

Across the country we are seeing and hearing stories of remarkable people doing remarkable things – and we have more than our share in Thurrock!

One person who certainly fits the bill of 'hero' is Stanford-le-Hope scout leader Jacqui Mann. Not only does she do an amazing job keeping her scout troop together and engaged in a multitude of activities – including through the lockdown – on Monday she will be donning her nurse's gear and returning to the frontline at Basildon Hospital.

Jacqui, 45, who lives with husband Darren and ten-year-old son Harry at Butts Lane began training as a nurse in 1993 and qualified three years later to start work at Basildon Hospital. After many years on the wards Jacqui left the hospital to become a care nurse for over 65s with multiple health problems and then retrained as a health visitor – serving her local community.

Now she's going back into the front line – showing once more that she puts service before self.

And that service has never been more clearly demonstrated than in her work with 2nd Stanford Scouts where together with a dedicated team of leaders and an enthusiastic band of parents she adds a whole new dimension to the lives of many local children.

And even during lockdown Jacqui and the team are keeping the scouts together. This week they held their first virtual meeting online with scouts logging in from home and they are being set a host of challenges to take up on their own and with family as they wait for the doors of the scout HQ, Allott Hall on London Road, to reopen.

"Scouts itself is special," says Jacqui. "It gives the kids an opportunity to take part in new adventures and activities and is amazing for giving them confidence for socialising and it is so very good for their mental health.

"Obviously in normal times we encourage the children to get outdoors as much as possible but now that's taking on a different format. We have had to cancel a lot of activities (including this summer's international jamboree at Chelmsford which the kids were so looking forward to) but do as much as possible from a virtual point of view.

"At 2nd Stanford we have an amazing group. Not just the scouts. We have a great group of Beavers who are still running through Facebook live sessions and the cubs started their digital meetings through the Zoom platform on Tuesday – they showed us what to do!

"We had our first session on Thursday when 20 scouts took part and I am sure that will grow. Everyone if already looking forward to the next one.

"The parents are playing a full part, they are being so supportive while obviously their main job is to follow government guidelines and keep themselves and their families safe. They have been tremendous."

Families play a huge part in the scout movement – indeed it was through her oldest child that Jacqui got involved some 13 years ago.

She recalls: "I initially started because my eldest joined 2nd Stanford and I went along and saw there were no female helpers at that time so I thought I would go along and help out 'occasionally'. That 'occasionally' became being an assistant scout leader and then I became scout leader about nine years ago.

"I can't deny there have been the odd times when I have felt like quitting but then it's always the scouts – and the parents – who inspire me to carry on. It's the interest from the kids that is amazing, their search for knowledge and enthusiasm keeps us going as leaders. We don't get paid to do it, it's nice to get some amazing kids out of it. It's wonderful to see them grow physically and emotionally and think that we as a team have played a part."

Very much a team!

And 2nd Stanford is very much a team. Jacqui was particularly keen to express thanks and pay tribute to those around her, particularly assistant leader Georgina Gale – who has taken the lead in organising the digital meetings – and other helpers including Joanne Mann (not related) and Stephen Blowes. "Thanks must go to them and all the other helpers and parents. It's such a great group of people and a pleasure to be with them and their children," she says.

For now though, Jacqui's immediate challenge is on the wards at Basildon Hospital. And it's a challenge not without its fears.

"When this all kicked off I knew the call was going to come so I acted quickly to contact the hospital and put myself back to work there," she says.

"It's been two weeks since I first approached them and my first shift starts on Monday. Fourteen years on going back into Basildon Hospital is a bit scary but I think as a nurse we don't go into nursing to sit back and let our colleagues get on with it. When there is a need you respond as best you can."

And Jacqui is grateful her family - older children Lizzie, 23, and Connie, 20, have given their blessing too – and the scouts group is behind her.

"Darren been steadfast and amazingly supportive. Of course both he and Harry are anxious about what is going to happen but everyone, including so many messages from the scout group, have been supportive. I feel a bit nervous but I am sure once I go through those door on Monday it will all come back and we will just get on the with job that needs doing."

Whatever that job throws up, there's little doubt Jacqui will rise to the challenge. Thurrock Nub News salutes her and all her colleagues in the caring professions, nursing and scouting!