We Can Do It Awards: Neighbours spreading joy through doorstep dancing wins them the title of Best Street

One of the positives which came out of a bizarre and isolating situation was that people looked out for each other and kept each other’s spirits up as best they could.

Residents of Burleigh Road in Buckland all got to know each other through fun doorstep dancing and bingo sessions - which have won them the title of Best Street in this year’s We Can Do It awards.

Marcus Tisson and his girlfriend Sandra Hunt came up with the idea to get people dancing in the street after Sandra spotted other communities across the world getting to know each other in the pandemic.

Marcus, who put notes through each of his neighbours’ doors, said: ‘As an entertainer and comedian, I thought “let me try it”. We thought two or three people might come out but when we came out at 2pm, half the street was waiting for us.

‘I started dancing and clapping my hands and got everyone involved. Some people had been living there 30 years and didn’t even know their neighbours' names.’

Neighbours became friends throughout three months of socially-distanced bingo sessions, and Marcus was pleasantly surprised to hear they had achieved Best Street.

Teaching assistant Marcus said: ‘I’m overwhelmed, I’m just so happy. I want to thank Burleigh Road because without them it wouldn’t be possible, it was a team effort.

‘I’m proud of myself for doing it, it made people smile for a few hours. It was so good for people’s mental health. In the first lockdown people needed a bit of lifting.

‘It’s something I will remember for the rest of my life, I have made some lifelong friends. That road will be in my heart forever.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to our online coverage, including Pompey, for 27p a day.