he coronavirus pandemic 2020 Helmdon

he coronavirus pandemic 2020

Helmdon: A Village In Lockdown: The First Eight Weeks

diary entries from Audrey Forgham

These thoughts, written for posterity at the time of the 2020 pandemic, are obviously not typical of the experience of the village as a whole. They are written from the point of view of a “shielded vulnerable person”, and are an attempt to show how one person coped in the face of unprecedented adversity.

After vague rumours in preceding months, during early March the press and media began to show alarm about some sort of virus, Covid-19, that had originated in the province of Wuhan in China, migrated over Asia and into Europe, and was now threatening our shores, worries began to escalate mid-March, and I began to have misgivings about a situation which I could hardly comprehend as true. I was due for a haircut and something told me to have it trimmed very short, I bought a few more groceries than usual and I decided that it was important to get, of all things, a stock of birthday cards. Towards the

end of the third week of March there was beginning to be panic in the shops which now sported empty shelves and were running out of toilet rolls! Perhaps I would go to the shops over the weekend, but no, I didn’t want anything, and I wouldn’t be someone who panics. Then all happened0 so fast …

1st week March 23^rd

On Monday morning I thought that I would go to the Buckingham Garden Centre for some bags of Cotswold grit, and although it was but 9.30 a.m. it was full of people wheeling loaded trolleys of plants. It was very unusual to see the place so full at this time in the week. I could not quite believe what was happening. I got home and watched with horror the news on TV that the Covid-19 virus had reached Britain. With it came a set of instant restrictions. Those under 70 were asked to work at home if they could, shop with self-distancing of 3 metres in mind, exercise an hour daily near their homes, and not in open spaces and public parks, and use their cars for essential journeys only. In

deed the phrase “self -distancing” was repeated over and over. Oldies, and not so oldies over 70, were told to self-isolate in were what became known as lockdown. They too were advised to go out for one hour exercise a day. Strict hygiene rules

This was getting serious. One needed food to live. How could I get my shopping? I tried to get a Tesco shop but then the situation solved itself when Jo Howard over the road called, and said that if I was in trouble she would add me on to her internet shop order. I happily agreed. Emails and telephone calls began to multiply with everybody asking if each other was alright. No-one could really believe what was happening.

2^nd week March 29^th

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hen you are old, and I must now admit to that I think!, you do not go out as much, so as far as day to day living is concerned the week goes on much as usual. There is the house and garden to see to and I edit wwww.helmdonhistory.com so there is always something to be getting on with on the computer. I have called friends and relatives in my turn. Everyone is fearful of the future. My stepdaughter Jill sent me an early birthday present of an IPad, and introduced me to Zoom, and with a Zoom Book Club meeting coming up this could hardly have been better timed.

View from my window

I live facing what is called the Square at the top of Cross Lane – indeed I am called “the guardian of the Square, I hope affectionately!”, and there has been a significant reduction in cars as workers obey the restrictions and work from home, and an increase in walkers and a more joggers having their one hour of exercise.

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n the wider front it is reported that Boris Johnson, the prime minister, has the virus and is away from work. We wish him well. It is reported that Prince Charles has mild symptoms but is now recovering. Covid-19 has not spared “the great and the good”.

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n Thursday we stood at our front doors, or went right out into the Square in the darkness, and clapped for the NHS, as the media has urged us to. There is a new spirit of thankfulness for what all carers do. In this pandemic as well as saving lives, many are taking risks with their own lives, not least because of the shortage of masks, gowns and other equipment.

There is help from the parish council if need be, advertised on noticeboards and on the parish council website. In fact of all sorts of information is coming out in the local press and on the web about local and central government initiatives about help and support which is good for there is no doubt that some people are in difficulties

I see from Helmdon Facebook that the children are being urged to paint rainbows and their efforts are being put on house windows and the parish council notice boards. On Friday I had a little blip in my mood but

I was greatly lifted in spirits when Chris and Diane Thorpe knocked at the door with a back of rock cakes. Diane bakes for the village café and she knew I always chose them when they were on offer there. Such a nice thought and from such nice people.

3^rd week April 6^th It is my birthday, and I expected a quiet day – it was anything but. I did not know getting to 90 was such a big deal. Neighbours Niki Phillips and the Tunley both baked me a cake and I had numerous birthday cards and bunches of flowers. Then mid-morning I was sitting in my lounge with my coffee, and I saw Judy Elkington approaching over the Square with a bouquet of flowers,

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nd within minutes neighbours and friends were congregating. I went to the front door and was serenaded with “happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you ….”. This was brilliant and really lifted my spirits at a time when I had had to postpone a big family party.

Grave news on that on April 7^th that Boris went into intensive care.

I had to get contact the parish clerk about my shopping buddy. Jo Howard, bless her, had taken on too much shopping for other people and had lost her Tesco slot, so I have been put in touch with Laura Whitehouse further down Cross Lane who has undertaken to get my groceries.

During the day there were many telephone calls, two family Zoom meetings and one Book Club Zoom , and I felt very tired when evening came.

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n Friday I realized that David, the Springfields surgery deliveryman, had not come with my prescription so I asked Eileen Graham, who had offered to help, if she would do this little ore for me, which she willingly did. We serenaded the NHS again and there were more neighbours out this time. News that the pub has started takeaways on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings and some breakfasts. Good for Ian and Lisa and I hope that they get good support.

Facebook reports that coloured stones have been placed round the village paths, in nooks and crannies and undergrowth, for children to find. This seems a lovely thing to do and from all the comments they are loving this.

My shopping buddy, now Laura, brought me a Sunday roast, and her children a rainbow card. Much appreciated. It was so good of her.

Good news in that Boris Johnson is out of intensive care but it will be some weeks before he is fit to return to government. Deaths in hospital are staggeringly high and are predicted to increase.

4^th week April 13^th

Helmdon Facebook is a mine of information and for several weeks now Rosie Moffat has been arranging dolls outside her house to amuse the children as they go on their walks.

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pril 16^th. I’m a bit “down” today. It was alright at the start of all this but I am now missing the little events that punctuated the weeks such as the café, the Fellowship and WI meetings. Granted we had the Book Group on Zoom but that was not actually seeing people. Yes, I shout pleasantries to neighbours and we e-mail each other but that is not like sitting down and having a conversation. However, I thought I would cheer myself up by having a take-way fish and chips from the pub which came, as promised at 6.30 p.m.

We went out and clapped the NHS on Thursday as usual and on Helmdon Facebook it said that music blared out afterwards in Station Road (I suspect from Bill England’s at the corner of Hintons Close) which was heard in Church Street! It must be said that the NHS is due lots of praise for the way they are carrying on in the face of tremendous difficulty.

Well done station road another amazing turnout and the music fantastic idea �������� I work for the NHS and I feel blessed to live in a lovely village with a great community. Thank you ❤️ xx Post on Helmdon Facebook

Laura (accompanied by children) brought me a great Sunday roast lunch. I did enjoy it.

5^th week April 20^th

There are DVDs and books for lending in the Reading Room, open at the time of the post office which is still open on a Tuesday morning. I hear that the postmistress is missing her slice of cake!

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n Tuesday I thought I would take the car out round the village to make sure the battery was still active and to get a book of stamps. I felt like a criminal as I crept down the road but in the event I saw no cars, only one or two people in the street, and there was no-one in the Reading Room, so, mission accomplished.

Usual clapping for the NJS on Thursday and I had my usual “shouts” at the neighbours in The Square and then went in and waited for my treat of takeaway from The Fat Landlord, which this week was scampi and chips.

Another Sunday lunch from Laura. I tried to say that it was becoming too much of a habit but she insists on doing it and I must say that I find it very enjoyable.

6^th week April 27nd

Boris Johnson is back in harness and states that we are coming to the end of the first phase of the stamping out of the virus in Britain but warns that restrictions will stay in place awhile yet. It gives a bit of hope to everyone but there is no doubt that the oldies will be in lockup the longest because of our vulnerability. The phrase comes to mind:

“The old have lived a life but still have a life left to live.”

and this is so true. We want to make the best of it and it seems we shan’t be able to for, it seems at the moment, many weeks if not months.

Little Francesca Whitehead came to the door with her Mum this evening. She had made some Irish stew for the family and wanted to bring me some down in a bowl. How sweet of her, and it was much enjoyed.

All the time we have been in lockdown unwanted goods and bric a brac have been offered on Helmdon Facebook, usually free, sometimes at a price, or sometimes in aid of the fabulous NHS who are more and more to be seen as saints, giving extra time to covid patients often without the requisite masks and gloves because there is a blip in the supply chain. We had the usual clapping for the NHS and every week it gets louder. Ella, Isabella and Lily from Lukes Close have so far raised £65 for the NHS by putting bits to sell, with a target of £100.

For the first time in this six weeks feeling depressed. I have resigned myself to not doing to the café each week, not to go to the Fellowship or the Wi, the coffee mornings et al that are normal daily life, but … today! I feel very low.

Helmdon has some lovely walks, recorded in leaflets and for two or three weeks on Helmdon Facebook Phillip Ward has been urging villagers to go on their hour of exercise over the countryside, rather than pound the pavement To this end he has put up a map.I just wish I could still walk that far.

My shopping buddy’s little daughter, Francesca, brought me round some delicious Irish stew that she had made for me. I don’t know what I have done to deserve it but it was really sweet of her.

7^th week May 4th

Still not my usual positive self. I woke up with a headache. Everything is getting to me, partly, I think and hope, because I have no lady coming in to hoover through the house and that chore has been worrying me. So perhaps my worry is close to home. We shall see… … All hands to the pump today – I will have to get some of the hated housework done.

Hintons Close are talking of having a “party” to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the ending o

f the Second World War this coming Friday, May 8th. I wonder whether any other parts of the village will celebrate..

The family are having a Zoom quiz on Saturday. Two teams, one of whom moos if he or she things they have got an answer right, and the other team quacks! I’ve opted out (I’m not so quick these days) and am the scorer!

Strange to see on Helmdon Facebook that someone is offering to sell face masks in bulk! Oh dear, that a prospect not worth thinking about.

Another day, the sun is out, I’ve been in the garden, and I am feeling positive again. I also think that it might also have something to with the fact that webmaster Danny Moody and I have managed to get fifteen contributions of reminiscences on www.helmdohistory.com. The history project we announced three or four weeks ago has been successful and there are more articles in the pipeline. As we thought, it was an ideal time to ask for these when people are in lockdown.

It seems that the peak of the deaths in the country have reached their peak and are coming down, though the deaths in care homes continue to rise. Given the amount of care that has to be given to the elderly and vulnerable, I think there should have been very much earlier note given to the provision of masks and testing for the virus, but hindsight is a marvellous thing.

Another clap for the NHS this week, more sauce pan banging than before and someone is ringing a bell. A great flag has gone up on the flagpole at the bottom of Wappenham Road celebrating them, replacing the Northamptonshire flag for the time being.

The VE celebrations took place in sunny weather and the village stepped up to the plate. I went to a gathering just down the road, staying an hour or two, but it was a good three hours before the gossiping stopped. There was a lot to say after being so many there had been locked away for so long. Social distancing was maintained at all times!

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Week 8

Caroline King emailed me today, would I like a cake? She was filling her time baking and

would like to find someone else to give a cake to. I accepted gladly and have sliced it up to eat it up sparingly. I won’t feel so guilty eating it piece by piece! This is just an example of how the village has opened up to each other. I corresponded with Caroline years ago over the gardening club and we haven’t e-mailed or seen each other since. I had to get in touch with her over the reminiscences project and lo, we are in touch again, we have time for each other.

There is no doubt after all this is over villagers will know their neighbours better through helping them out, writing about problems and triumphs on Facebook, offering goods and services to make the lockdown more comfortable, and they will appreciate the walks in the countryside that they hadn’t ever explored before as they exercise (perhaps for the first time), an hour a day. In short, living village life to the full.

Monday 11th May saw Boris Johnson allowing some leniency to the lockdown. For instance, garden centres can open (not that that will be of any use to me), people can exercise more than once a day, people who absolutely can’t work from home are allowed to return, and so on.

The pub has continued with its takeaway meals and great they have been for many people. It is to be hoped that Ian and Lisa have had enough business to just jog along through this desperate time for pubs and restaurants – indeed all businesses. You may be sure they will be well supported again once this is all over.