Eight year old Hastings girl lights up London’s Piccadilly Circus as part of national tribute to the NHS

Eight year old Summer Finlay from Hastings featured on the big screen at London’s Piccadilly Circus in a tribute to the NHS for its 72nd birthday.
Summer Finlay at Piccadilly Circus SUS-200715-080101001Summer Finlay at Piccadilly Circus SUS-200715-080101001
Summer Finlay at Piccadilly Circus SUS-200715-080101001

It came about after artist Helen Marshall, from The People’s Picture, created a huge video mosaic in the shape of a rainbow to mark the way we’ve managed to get through the lockdown and celebrate the NHS.

Summer, from St Leonards, who suffers from spina bifida, spent every Thursday evening clapping for the NHS and Keyworkers during lockdown. Her dad Shaun filmed, then uploaded these to her social media accounts. (@summersstory1).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Helen Marshall said: “I was really moved by the collective creative response of the nation to the pandemic. Summer’s Video just caught my eye, mainly because I thought wow this is a really dedicated parent to his kid and it was just great because he shot so many little videos of Summer during that time.”

Summer said: “My video was up on the lights of me clapping for the NHS. It was amazing and shocking to be on the Piccadilly Lights. Now I’m famous! A big thank you to the NHS and all the keyworkers for helping in coronavirus!”

At the age of six Summer became the first person to complete the Eastbourne half-marathon in a wheelchair, pushed by Shaun.

So far, 12,456 pictures and stories have been collected to form the rainbow mosaic, but only a handful of those are being prominently featured at Piccadilly Lights.

For more on the art project at www.thepeoplespicture.com/rainbows-for-the-nhs/