A harrowing photo showing the reality of working as a doctor during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has gone viral online.
Ceri Hayles – a doctor from Bridgend in South Wales – shared a photo of herself looking visibly exhausted after removing her Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), with her face bearing the marks and indentations of wearing a mask and visor for a prolonged period of time.
The powerful photo has been included in the National Portrait Gallery’s Hold Still project.
In the accompanying description to the now-viral selfie as part of the photo project, Ceri Hayles said: “This is what broken looks like.
“This is operating for 3 hours in full PPE. This is dehydration. This is masks that make your ears bleed because the straps have slipped and you daren’t touch them. This is fighting an invisible enemy that becomes more visible each day.
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“This is a face I never thought I’d show the world, but one which I wear more and more.
“I took this photo to have as a reminder of how far I’d been capable of pushing myself when I needed to. I sent it to my family to tell them what a hard day it had been and they were all so shocked by it. The person they know as being so well put together, always wearing a smile, was not the person they saw that day.
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“Looking back on it now, I feel immensely proud of the commitment shown by myself and my colleagues to provide safe care for patients, even in the depths of a pandemic.
“We still wear full PPE for all of our cases, and you never get used to it, but I know we’ll keep doing it for as long as it is needed.”
Ceri’s photo is just one of 100 photos making up the National Portrait Gallery’s Hold Still project, which aims to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown.
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There are also a few local heroes from Greater Manchester featured in the project too.
Anthony Owens and his staff volunteered their time to deliver meals to members of their local community entirely for free and in total across two sites, over 2,000 meals were delivered to the vulnerable in Middleton, Mossley and surrounding areas.
The famous and much-loved ‘Stockport Spiderman’ has also quite rightly made his way onto the list after raising over £60,000 for NHS Charities Together during lockdown.
Robert Coyles’ photo of his partner and young son appreciating their time spent in the garden in Sale also made the cut.
You can view all of the photos in the National Portrait Gallery’s Hold Still project here.
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Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off
Emily Sergeant
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off.
Okay, so it’s not technically closing down per se, but the current LOFT premises off Hyde Road near Piccadilly will officially close doors on 30 September, as the business consolidates its operations and relocates to its newly completed headquarters over at Trafford Park.
Unlike a typical closing-down sale, the stock isn’t old or unwanted. Instead, it’s a live snapshot of LOFT’s day-to-day business, and everything must go.
LOFT is known for furnishing properties across the build-to-rent, student accommodation, co-living, private rented, and social housing sectors, and that constant turnover naturally generates surplus – whether it be project overstock, end-of-line pieces or discontinued items making way for new collections.
The move over to Trafford Park is said to be a moment to clear the warehouse ‘completely’ and start the new chapter with a clean slate.
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off / Credit: Supplied
This means that everything, from sofas and beds, to dining sets, armchairs, and home accessories, must go before the move, with prices already reduced by 50 to 70% below RRP.
Benjamin Hall, who is the Founder and CEO of LOFT, says this is the ‘biggest and best value’ sale the company has ever offered.
He explained: “As we settle into our new home at Trafford Park, we want a completely clean slate. Whether you’re a homeowner after a one-off bargain, or a landlord, agent or developer furnishing multiple units on a budget, there has never been a better time to visit.”
So homeowners, landlords, letting agents, property developers, interior designers, and home-staging businesses, this one’s for you.
LOFT Manchester is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, and no appointment is needed, so you can just turn up whenever and bag a bargain.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Tickets go on sale for massively popular pumpkin festival near Greater Manchester this autumn
Emily Sergeant
Tickets for one of the North West’s most popular pumpkin festivals with thousands of pumpkins to pick have now officially gone on sale.
We know it’s still technically summer and the sun is still shining, but in just over a month’s time, Kenyon Hall Farm’s popular Pumpkin Festival will be back up and running for 2026.
This is an ideal autumnal activity for when the leaves start turning golden, and is always popular with families every year.
Think fields full of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, where you can grab yourself a wheelbarrow and get searching for your perfect gourd – whether it’s a classic round orange one, or a weird and wonderful wonky one.
Kenyon Hall Farm’s popular Pumpkin Festival will be back from next month / Credit: The Manc Group | Concetta Huffa (via Unsplash)
As well as the pumpkin picking itself, Kenyon Hall Farm also has loads of photo opportunities dotted around, like a house built of pumpkins, a giant throne, a vintage tractor, a love heart frame, and even a Hollywood sign-style sign screaming ‘PUMPKINS’ as you enter.
This year, the owners are also teasing some brand-new displays for 2026, so stay tuned for what’s in store.
While you’re at the farm, you can also browse a pop-up market packed with autumnal treats, including more pumpkins, novelty homewares, and seasonal goodies, and then head on into the gorgeous on-site cafe for some pumpkin-inspired specials like spiced lattes, scones, and soup.
What could be more a perfect autumn activity than rummaging around in a field picking your perfect pumpkin with your pals?
Kenyon Hall Farm’s Pumpkin Festival officially returns from Saturday 26 September, and tickets are now on sale at £3.95 each, so make sure to book yours soon as they’re already selling fast.
Emily Sergeant -
15th September 2020 
