Kind-hearted Stanley delivers treats to NHS Superheroes

Stanley Briggs (4), whose colourful display of stones outside his home in Hollings Lane, Ravenfield, attracted attention from around the world, used the £140 he raised for the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity to buy treats for staff at Rotherham Hospital.

Despite heartless thieves stealing 79 of his stones in May, Stanley was not deterred and with the help of people from as far afield as Hawaii and Australia, he collected 1,200 stones. 

Stanley donated treats last Wednesday (June 17) to staff on the radiology department at Rotherham Hospital, where his parents Emma Rose and Adrian Briggs previously worked.

And there’s more good news for Stanley, as there are talks to make the stones into a permanent feature at the entrance to Ravenfield Common.

Emma, who is a senior radiographer at Thornbury Hospital, Sheffield, said she has had positive talks with councillors in Ravenfield about making the lockdown snake a permanent fixture.

Emma said Stanley had been devastated when the original stone snake was stolen – but the community had rallied round to rebuild it.

She revealed that seven of the original decorated stones had been found in a woman’s front garden and had been returned last Wednesday.

Emma said: “We asked for our donation to go to the radiology department where Adrian and I met and worked.

“It’s a place that has many happy memories for us.

“Delivering the goodies has been another highlight for us and we hope it raises lots of smiles amongst our old colleagues.”

Buffet food, including cakes, fruit, quiche and sandwiches were also donated by Morrisons and Lillie’s Coffee Shop at Bramley and the Co-Op and Potteries Tea Rooms, both in Swinton.

Rachel Bell, deputy professional lead for medical imaging in clinical radiology, donated two decorative stones to add to Stanley’s snake.

Emma said the rest of the donations would be used to buy a new Christmas tree for the radiology department and 140 blank decorations to hang on the tree.

She said she would like the decorations to be filled in by those who had been involved in Stanley’s snake. 

Martin Havenhand, chairman of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Stanley has quite rightly become the star of his community in Ravenfield thanks to his wonderfully creative idea to encourage everyone to contribute to a stone snake.

“To have more than 1,200, even after some were sadly stolen, is no mean feat. Well done Stanley. 

“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported Stanley and to those who donated funds to also boost the charity.

“The refreshments were a thoughtful gesture for colleagues at the trust who are still working hard in difficult circumstances.” 

The charity’s Rotherham NHS Superheroes campaign was introduced in response to the public’s support for NHS colleagues as they care for coronavirus patients.

The charity has since received a host of donations from individuals, organisations and community groups from Rotherham and beyond ranging from refreshments, PPE, hand-made scrubs, headbands and laundry bags to tablets and toys. 

The campaign aims to raise funds for care packages, refreshments and treats during busy shifts plus longer term projects such as access to health and well-being initiatives to boost morale and mental health programmes to ensure staff stay well. 

Donations can be made to the NHS Rotherham Superheroes campaign by visiting this page.