Desborough's Aaron stunned as PPE production earns him honours recognition

When Desborough's Aaron Shrive started making pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff last year, he didn't do it for any awards.

So you can imagine his surprise after he received one of the biggest possible - being named on the New Year Honours list for services to the Covid-19 response.

The 33-year-old has been awarded a British Empire Medal after working flat out at the start of the pandemic, creating thousands of face shields for workers on the frontline.

And it was an unexpected early Christmas and birthday present when he opened a letter from the Cabinet Office earlier this month.

He said: "I knew nothing about it until an envelope dropped through my door.

"I was shocked - it hadn't even crossed my mind.

"I definitely had to sit down for a while after opening it!"

Aaron utilised his skills as a 3D printer design engineer to supply PPE to NHS hospitals and local firms who were under extreme pressure.

When the national lockdown was announced in March 2020 he was unable to continue his work as usual and instead harnessed his skills, and adapted his business, to help those in the community.

He repurposed his bank of 3D printers to design and print face shields and donated them, free of charge, to anyone in need.

Aaron said: "I got hold of a design, did a few test shields and then Harborough Medical Centre asked for some.

"It just grew from there - it was incredible really."

There was such a high demand for the face shields that he worked day and night, and at times only slept for one hour a night in order to provide vital PPE for all in the community.

He donated the PPE to NHS hospitals in the local area, including Leicester General, Leicester Royal Infirmary, and Kettering General, as well as care homes and local businesses.

Aaron had such a demand that he also sent PPE to other areas of the country, including as far away as Cornwall.

Over a six-week period, the former Robert Smyth Academy pupil used more than 20 miles of plastic to produce more than 6,400 face shields.

And when he had to stop after volunteers were warned they had to meet British and EU standards, he adapted his skills to design and print more than 9,000 ear protectors to be used alongside face masks.

He invested more than £2,000 of his own money into providing the PPE - all while not being able to generate any income for himself due to the national restrictions.

Aaron, who moved to Desborough from Market Harborough in February, said he was grateful to the community for their support and that he had kept a box full of thank you letters he received.

And he added: "People that work in the NHS are the real heroes of the pandemic."

The north Northamptonshire New Year Honours list in full: Alison Duckles CBE (Wellingborough: Head, learning and development, Laing O'Rourke. For services to education), Yvonne Baker OBE (Rushden: Chief executive, STEM Learning. For services to STEM education), Dylan Fletcher-Scott MBE (formerly of Desborough: Olympic gold medal winner. For services to sailing), Kevin Moseley MBE (Wollaston: Founder and chief executive officer, SwimFin Ltd. For services to international trade, to investment and to charity), Maisie Summers-Newton MBE (Wollaston: Paralympic gold medal winner. For services to swimming), Charlotte Worthington MBE (Corby: Olympic gold medal winner. For services to BMX racing), Timothy Aldous BEM (Kettering: Works supervisor, Forestry England. For services to forestry), Ben Hodgkinson BEM (Geddington: Created CPAP device. For services to the NHS during Covid-19), Vincent James BEM (Irchester: Employee, Network Rail. For services to prisoners), Aaron Shrive BEM (Desborough: supplied the NHS with PPE. For services to the Covid-19 response), Julie West BEM (Rushden: Poppy Appeal volunteer, Rushden Branch Royal British Legion. For voluntary service to veterans).