It was fantastic to visit AstraZeneca and congratulate team members Mark Proctor and David Hunt on the CBEs they were awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. They were recognised for their work in helping to create an effective supply chain that saw the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shipped globally.

All of the team deserve recognition, though, for their dedication to helping others. To hear about the long hours and extra work their staff put inti producing a vaccine so quickly, and at no-profit, was tremendous. That the staff themselves also donated thousands of pounds to AstraZeneca’s local chosen charities says much about them.

The Speke site manufactures flu vaccines, but it was great to see that the wealth of experience and knowledge they have locally played a crucial part in producing the Covid vaccine and ensuring it’s safe distribution around the world.

Well done to Mark, David and all the staff there.