A year of lockdown in Doncaster: How fancy dress brought colour to the streets during lockdown

Some of Doncaster’s streets became colourful places after Doncaster was plunged into lockdown a year ago – as residents went out of their way to cheer up their neighbours.
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Among the more colourful places to be was Edlington, as postman Dave Evans became a firm favourite with residents after switching his usual Royal Mail uniform for a succession of fancy dress costumes.

Postie Dave Evans wanted to cheer up residents of the village of Edlington during the difficult weeks of lockdown and decided to dress up while delivering mail wearing different costumes every day ranging from Elsa from Frozen to Captain America and Buzz Lightyear.

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Look at the costumes postman David Evans has worn on his round in Doncaster duri...
Postman David Evans dressed as Buzz LightyearPostman David Evans dressed as Buzz Lightyear
Postman David Evans dressed as Buzz Lightyear
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Dave had previously dressed up as an elf on his round at Christmas, but swapped costumes each day during lockdown after he was challenged to give it a go by Toni Matthews, from the Edlington Community Organisation at the Yorkshire Main Community Centre in the former pit village.

He said: “I tried to get costumes on Ebay, but was told it would take four to five weeks to get anything because it was non essential. Then I put the word out locally about what I was trying to do, and why. Within an hour, I had 30 outfits donated.”

At the same time another Edlington resident, Dean Ashbridge, was dressing up as the character Deadpool when he went for walks around the village in his costume.

Residents were so pleased to see him that he started posting on Facebook daily what street he would appear on that evening and even expanded his walks to the village of Warmsworth.

Dave Evans and Dean Ashbridge, collecting money in their fancy dress costumesDave Evans and Dean Ashbridge, collecting money in their fancy dress costumes
Dave Evans and Dean Ashbridge, collecting money in their fancy dress costumes
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When lockdown started to ease Dean and Dave arranged a joint NHS fundraising event with Dean dressing up as Deadpool and Dave as Cruella DeVil and they walked through the village collecting £512 for the hospitals Rainbow Garden Appeal at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. That was set to create two gardens, one at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and one at Bassetlaw Hospital, in memory of those lost to Covid-19, including hospital staff Kevin Smith and Dr Medhat Atalla.

Meanwhile, in Thorne, teenager Saffron Livesey became well known for donning an inflatable dinosaur costume on her daily walks.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.