Royals were a steady force in Covid crisis

the restrictions; we need to get life back to ‘normal’ as much as possible, and whilst it is vital we continue to take a common sense approach with concerns about the Delta variant, it does appear that perhaps we have passed the peak.

This is a good time to take stock and to look at what we the British and our government have got right, with 90 per cent of the population having received at least one dose of the vaccine through the NHS.

It is fair to say Boris Johnson and probably the whole free world didn’t quite grasp the severity of the pandemic when it first made its impact.

Our country under the leadership of our Prime Minister has transformed the nation into the fastest vaccination force in the whole of Europe.

We can be proud too of our Royal Family that have been a steady force during this critical period.

I, and indeed many of you across our country and in other nations, were touched by the words the Queen spoke last year when she addressed the nation amid the worsening pandemic:

“Better days will return.

“We will be with our friends again, we will meet again’, she said in a speech designed to give courage to her fellow citizens using meaningful words to reassure and comfort us all.

It was so full of impact. I remember it made people feel part of a collective effort to fight a battle that none of us saw coming.

Her Majesty’s was this one voice that rose above political agendas, speaking to the people, for the people.

In a world that revolves around the self, from self-pity to self-promotion, the Queen’s dutiful selfless presence, even when grieving the death of her beloved husband Prince Philip, felt reliable and reassuring.

Here in Rochdale we should all be grateful and proud of the number of volunteers that have helped to roll out the vaccination programme, and all council staff that ensured services continued even through the most difficult days of the pandemic.

Hopefully many lessons have been learnt about the need for communities to work together and support each other as we all hope for a better future.