One of Boston’s most distinguished and recognisable sons has made a donation with a difference to the town’s Guildhall Museum, helping mark a chapter in the town’s recent history.

Boston-born Sir Prof Jonathan Van-Tam became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic through his role as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England.

Appearing on TV screens as part of Downing Street press briefings, he won fans far and wide through his imaginative use of metaphor and simile.

Sir Jonathan – affectionately known as ‘JVT’ – would often face the cameras in a bold pin-striped suit, perhaps also sporting a Boston United FC tie.

The donation made by Sir Prof Jonathan Van-Tam to Boston Guildhall Museum (bottom right) and an example of its time on TV (top right).

placeholder image — The donation made by Sir Prof Jonathan Van-Tam to Boston Guildhall Museum (bottom right) and an example of its time on TV (top right).

The donation to Boston Guildhall Museum includes the pin-striped suit worn during the press conferences, together with a tie worn during those briefings and one of his much-loved Boston United ties.

During the handover at the museum, Sir Jonathan reflected on his connection to the Guildhall.

He said: “I remember coming to the museum whilst growing up in the town and going into the cells.

“Now that my suit has reached the end of its working life, I wanted to donate it to the museum as it marked a part of my own life and that of my hometown.”

Sir Jonathan has enjoyed a distinguished career in medicine and public health. A graduate of the University of Nottingham, he is internationally recognised for his expertise in influenza, pandemic preparedness, vaccinology and respiratory viruses.

He served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England from 2017 to 2022 and played a leading role in the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In recognition of his services to public health, he was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Coun Sarah Sharpe, portfolio holder for heritage, culture and tourism at Boston Borough Council, said: “We are very grateful to Jonathan for his generous donation.

“We are currently working on a series of exhibition panels about famous Bostonians and this donation will be exhibited as part of that series over the next few months.

“Although we are rightly proud of our rich history going back over a thousand years, we are also keen to preserve contemporary history for future generations, and this donation fits very well into this category.”

A spokesman for the council said the donation reflects Boston Guildhall Museum’s commitment to not only preserve the town’s rich heritage, but also to collecting objects that tell the story of more recent events which have shaped the lives of communities across the country.