NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital tuck into 150 curries donated thanks to takeaways across Portsmouth

NHS staff working flat out to tackle the coronavirus crisis were treated to special lunch today – tucking into 150 biryanis donated thanks to takeaway staff across Portsmouth.
By Richard Lemmer
Published 20th Apr 2020, 17:36 BST
Updated 21st Apr 2020, 11:01 BST
Members of the Bengali business community in Portsmouth have donated more than 100 hot meals to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra hospital. Staff from Wild Mango in Copnor and Shake & Grill in Southsea, delivered meals to QA on Monday, April 20. Pictured is: (l-r) Mohammad Alom, Kalidur Rahman, Mosu Miah, Muhammed Alom and Habibur Rahman from Wild Mango and Shake & Grill. Picture: Sarah Standing (200420-7879) Members of the Bengali business community in Portsmouth have donated more than 100 hot meals to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra hospital. Staff from Wild Mango in Copnor and Shake & Grill in Southsea, delivered meals to QA on Monday, April 20. Pictured is: (l-r) Mohammad Alom, Kalidur Rahman, Mosu Miah, Muhammed Alom and Habibur Rahman from Wild Mango and Shake & Grill. Picture: Sarah Standing (200420-7879)
Members of the Bengali business community in Portsmouth have donated more than 100 hot meals to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra hospital. Staff from Wild Mango in Copnor and Shake & Grill in Southsea, delivered meals to QA on Monday, April 20. Pictured is: (l-r) Mohammad Alom, Kalidur Rahman, Mosu Miah, Muhammed Alom and Habibur Rahman from Wild Mango and Shake & Grill. Picture: Sarah Standing (200420-7879)

Muhammed Alom, manager of Shake And Grill, in Elm Grove, came up with the idea to feed hard working healthcare workers on the front line of the crisis.

In less than a week more than than 10 restaurants and takeaways across the city have pledged to support his idea, alongside Portsmouth Muslim Academy and North End Islamic Centre.

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Today saw the first of what is planned to be weekly deliveries to Queen Alexandra Hospital from a series of restaurants with Wild Mango, in Copnor Road, delivering 100 chicken biryanis and 50 vegetable biryanis.

Members of the Bengali business community in Portsmouth have donated more than 100 hot meals to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra hospital. Staff from Wild Mango in Copnor and Shake & Grill in Southsea, delivered meals to QA on Monday, April 20. Pictured is: (back) Staff from Wild Mango and Shake & Grill with some of the NHS key workers from QA (front l-r) Miles Haslam, Conor Singleton, Simon Petts, Dan Yearsley, Nick Thornhill and Daniel Gudgeon. Picture: Sarah Standing (200420-7891) Members of the Bengali business community in Portsmouth have donated more than 100 hot meals to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra hospital. Staff from Wild Mango in Copnor and Shake & Grill in Southsea, delivered meals to QA on Monday, April 20. Pictured is: (back) Staff from Wild Mango and Shake & Grill with some of the NHS key workers from QA (front l-r) Miles Haslam, Conor Singleton, Simon Petts, Dan Yearsley, Nick Thornhill and Daniel Gudgeon. Picture: Sarah Standing (200420-7891)
Members of the Bengali business community in Portsmouth have donated more than 100 hot meals to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra hospital. Staff from Wild Mango in Copnor and Shake & Grill in Southsea, delivered meals to QA on Monday, April 20. Pictured is: (back) Staff from Wild Mango and Shake & Grill with some of the NHS key workers from QA (front l-r) Miles Haslam, Conor Singleton, Simon Petts, Dan Yearsley, Nick Thornhill and Daniel Gudgeon. Picture: Sarah Standing (200420-7891)
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Muhammed said he was inspired to help NHS staff after seeing their ‘amazing’ work when they cared for his father, who died in 2011 after three years of treatment for bladder cancer at QA.

He said: ‘They did a fantastic job caring for him.

‘Now they are on the front line fighting Covid-19, putting themselves at risk.

‘The idea of getting food to staff started a week ago, and it’s been great that so many restaurants have agreed to help.’

‘I’m really happy to be able to do something to help.’

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Staff from Wild Mango and Shake and Grill handed NHS staff a letter thanking them for their hard working during the crisis: ‘We from a Muslim and Bangladeshi background have been taught to help people in their time of need. It is our duty even more to to help our superheroes.

Next week will see Shake and Grill make a donation of burgers, fries, and shakes, with restaurants including Kassia, in Havant Road, Haldi, in Albert Road, and India Gate, Kingston Road, agreeing to take up the effort in the coming weeks.

The gesture has gained the project the support of the Bangladeshi Caterers Association, with the president of the association applauding their ‘noble’ work.

Mohammed Munim said: ‘The whole BCA team and the catering industry is proud of (the project).’

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Related topics:NHSPortsmouth