‘We will get through’ crisis, says Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex
So much has happened in the past fortnight, it seems as though daily life for all of us has completely changed.
Three weeks ago, as LordLieutenant, I had a busy diary jam-packed with all sorts of activities in every corner of West Sussex: visiting a St John Ambulance Unit, opening two cadet centres, BEM investitures, a royal visit by the Duke of Gloucester, spending time at Home-Start in Chichester, a meeting at the South Downs National Park, Sussex Historic Churches Trust Awards, Police Awards… all cancelled.
Three weeks ago, as a mother of three and grandma to a 20-month-old in Kent, I was also looking forward to Mothers’ Day, looking after our grandson for a couple of days and a family birthday last Friday.
Not being able to go out and about as the Queen’s representative has been difficult; but missing out on seeing and doing things with our family is just so much harder. And now we will be here on our own for Easter and the family Easter Egg hunt in the garden will have to be postponed - it will go ahead though, even if we wait until autumn!
All of us have our own extra worries too - fear of the virus of course but also childcare, financial and job concerns, health issues, loneliness, anxiety about those nearest and dearest to us. I know I do.
I have a son who is renting a studio flat and is now unemployed; a daughter having a second baby next month, a husband over 70... I mention all this because although I realise how fortunate I am I do, I think, understand just how hard life is right now.
But we will get through. I am not going to go on about all that we should be doing to prevent the spread of this wretched bug: that we should be doing as much as we can goes without saying.
We will get through because West Sussex has mobilised and the response of our communities has been just extraordinary. Almost every town and village is covered by one or more voluntary teams set up to help the vulnerable and those in isolation.
Charities, food banks, support groups, homeless shelters, volunteers young and old are coming together. Sussex Community Foundation has set up a Crisis fund to help those most disadvantaged.
And the county, district, borough and parish councils are working flat out to try to maintain ‘business as usual’ - our hard-working bin men, children’s services and teachers, social services, the fire and rescue service; I can’t mention everyone.
Sussex Police are keeping us safe against all the odds. Churches and faith groups and their leaders are reaching out to their communities.
Supermarket staff and local shops - how do you manage to stay so cheerful? Businesses operating vital supply chains to keep essentials available. Shoreham Port still up and running.
Finally everyone working in the NHS and the often forgotten carers - I know you are exhausted already but you quietly get on with the job of looking after us. A massive thank you to you all.
Each one of us can make a difference for the better. It is going to be a tough few weeks and months but our determination and the kindness we show each other will get us through.