Nice to see you! Delight as restrictions eased
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEET UP FOR FIRST TIME IN MONTHS AS LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS ARE EASED
THREE sisters were among those reunited after months apart as lockdown restrictions were eased yesterday.
Gabriella Johnson, 27, and sisters Eleanor, 22, and Hannah, 20, met at Didsbury Park.
The relaxation of measures means that groups of six, or two households, can now meet up outdoors in parks or gardens.
The ‘stay at home’ order has been lifted, allowing people to leave their homes for non-essential reasons.
“We’ve not seen each other for seven months – I’ve booked a day off work so my sisters could come and visit,” Gabriella, 27, said.
“They live together and I live here, so they’ve finally been able to come over today. It’s been lovely to see each other.”
For these three sisters who live apart, and for most people in Greater Manchester, this stage of Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown brings a huge sense of relief.
On July 30 last year, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that people from different households in our region would not be allowed to meet each other indoors.
Until now, people in Greater Manchester have only be allowed to meet with one person from another household outdoors.
On what was dubbed ‘Happy Monday,’ parks in south Manchester were packed with families reuniting and friends meeting for coffee. The sun was shining as locals met up to walk their dogs and catch-up on park benches.
At Fletcher Moss Park, members of the Didsbury Village Women’s Institute were finally able to meet up for the first time in months.
They have been holding meetings on Zoom during lockdown, but today was the first time they could interact face-to-face. The women stood in the park in groups of six, socially-distanced from each other.
Marlene Brennand and Jean Burnett were among the group.
“I think this is what everyone has missed”, Marlene said. “That face-to-face contact. We’re all trying to keep our distance and it’s nice to just get out and chat.”
Outdoor sports facilities were also able to welcome people back today.
Football and cricket pitches, tennis and basketball courts, outdoor swimming pools, golf courses and sailing clubs are now free to reopen after months of being shuttered.
Henry Ticehurst, 56, Chris Ward, 55, Chris Thomas, 45, and Nick Chadwick, 49, were among the first to get back out onto the court at The Albert Club in West Didsbury.
“It’s brilliant to be back, it’s fantastic”, Henry told the M.E.N.
“I think we managed to play in early December and that was the last time, so it’s been frustrating. But it’s been great today.”
Chris Ward added: “I’ve been waiting for this for about a month now, just to get out and do it.
“For the mental-wellbeing, it’s fantastic. For the social side of things. We just need the bar to open to April.”
James Dunn, manager at the tennis and bowling club, said volunteers have been helping out to get the courts and green ready for the reopening.
He said after weeks of preparation and filling out risk assessment
forms, it was a ‘relief’ to reopen the outdoor facilities today.
“A lot of people have been looking forward to it, I’ve already spoken to some people already today and they’re happy, it’s their release, it’s their way to get out so they’re pleased”, James added.
“We’re almost fully booked today and for the rest of the week as well.
“It’s members-only for tennis at the minute, at this point we’re restricting it. But it’s a very social club and people come in for a drink afterwards when they can so we’re going to take outdoor bookings from the 12th.”
There was joy as loved ones were able to reunite for the first time in gardens too.
Sandra Gorvett Ridgway, from Blackrod, sent the M.E.N. a picture of her family reuniting in her parents’ garden in Adlington.
“It was lovely sitting in the sun together, the last year has been hard for them keeping safe”, she said.
While steps were taken out of lockdown yesterday, the prime minister stressed that ‘we must remain cautious, with cases rising across Europe and new variants threatening our vaccine rollout.’
“Despite today’s easements, everyone must continue to stick to the rules, remember hands, face, space, and come forward for a vaccine when called,” Boris Johnson added. A new slogan was also unveiled to stress the importance of ventilation in reducing the spread of the virus: “Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.”
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said that the roadmap out of lockdown remains ‘on track,’ with the next stage of easing set to take place on April 12.
But for now, many people in Greater Manchester are enjoying a return to the great outdoors and reuniting with those that we’ve missed.