SPLENDID ISOLATION
LOCKDOWN for many means being “stuck” in extraordinary places – like maintenance man Andy Heeley who has moved into a Hogwarts-style castle.
Andy, 56, has moved out of his twobed cottage and into privately owned Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, which he is keeping secure.
He says it’s “a fairy tale” being alone with his partner and her daughter at the 11th century castle, which featured in the Chalton Heston film El Cid in 1961.
He said: “It’s amazing walking the ramparts after hours, wondering what it must’ve been like lording it here.”
Jake Andreou of The Merry Harriers, in Hambledon, Surrey, has swapped pulling pints for taking llamas for walks.
Jake, 26, tells how his nine-strong herd have been his only companions since lockdown. He said: “I take the friendlier llamas around the village for a stroll, which opens a few curtains.”
Diving instructor Molly Basterfield, 26, is stuck on a 20-metre catamaran in the Philippines with two other crew.
They have been refused permission to go ashore since March 17.
Molly, from Birmingham, said: “We started to run out of food and fuel but finally pulled up at a pontoon and officials took our shopping list.”
Meanwhile, keeper Glynn Hennessy is on his own at London Zoo, living metres from the lions’ enclosure.
He said: “I’m kept awake all night by the pride leader Banu roaring, which is spine-chilling. Then I’m woken at 4.30am by the flamingos.
“So it’s tiring but amazing. I get to roam around the zoo 24-7 with not another soul in sight. ”
Ex-paratrooper Chris Lewis, 39, and his dog Jet are alone on Hildasay, off Shetland, without running water, heating or electricity.
He was 30 months in to a fundraising walk round the UK coastline when lockdown began and he instantly headed by boat to Hildasay.
He said: “I was given keys to the only property there and thought it would be better if I wasn’t on the mainland. I didn’t want to be in the way.” At the Tower of London,yeoman Sergeant Shaun Huggins, 52, is still helping perform the nightly Ceremony of the Keys to shut the gates – with no spectators to watch them.
He said:“it’s a bit surreal, like being an actor on stage with no audience.
“There are about 140 of us locked down in the Tower right now, so it’s not such a bad place to be.”
Adrian and Marina Ferne are in lockdown at Cat Protection’s Bredhurst Centre, in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Adrian, 65, said: “We haven’t seen a soul since March 14, just 60 cats in miaowing distance. But we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”