A year in lockdown
Council leader reflects on 12 hard months
The Strath fell silent on Tuesday as the nation paused to poignantly reflect on a 12-month period that will live long in the memory.
March 23, 2020, will go down in history as the day the lockdown restrictions were imposed in the UK for the first time as a result of what was then an escalating Covid-19 crisis.
The danger posed by coronavirus had already become clear, with both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlining its grave potential during television broadcasts to the UK and Scotland respectively.
Mr Johnson called the virus “the biggest threat this country has faced for decades”.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Let me be blunt. The stringent restrictions on our normal day-to-day lives that I’m about to set out are difficult and they are unprecedented. They amount effectively to what has been described as a lockdown.”
Across the world, 2.69 million people – including 126,000 in the UK – have passed away because of a disease we did not know existed 16 months ago.
Prime Minister Mr Johnson was among the politicians to back charity Marie Curie’s plan for a day of reflection on Tuesday this week, which included a minute’s silence at noon and an 8pm doorstep vigil featuring candles and torches to remember those who have died as a result the virus.
Landmarks across the UK were also lit up yellow at night – including the town clock in the centre of Crieff – and community-led activities added to the air of collective remembrance.
A spokesperson for Marie Curie said: “Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind. There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise.
“This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we’re facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.”
Reflecting on a 12-month period like no other, Perth and Kinross Council leader Murray Lyle – who represents the Strathallan ward – said: “I have not been in the office at 2 High Street in Perth for a year. That’s quite something.
“That is a situation you could never have contemplated. I think I have been into Perth twice since the lockdown was called.
“I quickly got my letter from the NHS reminding me that I had to shield. That’s been a challenge to everyone – myself and my family. That is something that will stick in my mind.”
Despite the massive challenges, people adapted early on and a sense of community spirit has shone through.
Community-led groups were set up to get food to those in the shielding category and those having to self-isolate at home.
The council and other bodies also reacted quickly.
“I will remember how closely we worked in collaboration with the NHS and how staff went above and beyond to put plans in place to deal with the situation,” Cllr Lyle recalled.
“We managed to work at a pace we had never worked at before.
“The number of volunteers who have stepped up also stands out. People have shown real resilience and they have wanted to make a contribution.
“It has been really quite humbling.” Businesses also had to find a new way of working. For many, there was no option but to close, but others were able to continue using different methods.
Vicki Unite is the chief executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce.
She said: “We knew we had to work differently and really get up to capacity as quickly as possible, to initially support each other and then to see how we could continue to operate and, where possible, adapt and look forward.
“I think, in some cases, we surprised ourselves with our own ability to adapt and embrace new technologies.”
Ms Unite also praised “the immediate outpouring of kindness and offers of help within our Perthshire community”.
She said: “There was a real understanding that by helping our neighbours, we all benefited.
“We needed – and continue to need – each other and shortened supply chains and local value was really appreciated.”
She added: “We choose to live and/or work here and we have a lot to be proud of.”
There was a real understanding that by helping out our neighbours, we all benefited