Saluting the unsung heroes in Harborough who have helped us all cope during a tough 12 months

The leader of Harborough council is saluting all the “unsung heroes” who have helped us all cope with the devastating Covid-19 pandemic across the district.

Cllr Phil King said he was proud of his own hard-working council staff as well as key workers like taxi drivers, shop staff and postmen and women during the 12-month pandemic.

The Conservative council chief praised this small army of people almost a year to the day since Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres and stop all non-essential contact and travel on Monday March 16, 2020.

“As I continue to look back over the last 12 months, there are many things which as the leader of Harborough District Council gives me immense pride.

“Not just the magnificent response of our staff to the initial crisis in mid-March.

“But their ongoing adaptability to the changing daily edicts from central Government while at the same time carrying on with the day-job, business as usual.

“It’s been a truly remarkable team effort,” Cllr King told the Harborough Mail.

“Not just at this council, but across the district and wider area, there have been innumerable acts of personal sacrifice that have gone under the radar.

“While it’s true that everyone working in the NHS, both medical and non-medical, along with all of our emergency services, police, ambulance and fire have been at the frontline of the crisis, many others in less high-profile roles have performed and continue to play a critical part in the ongoing response to the pandemic.

“Care workers, lorry and delivery drivers, warehouse staff, bus and train staff, taxi drivers, shop staff and market traders.

“Postmen and women, small business owners, IT and tech suppliers, broadband suppliers and mobile phone companies,” said Cllr King.

“There are many more I can list.

“But without these people or companies, much of what we have managed to do would not have been possible.

“I urge you to join with me and thank as you see appropriate all of these ‘unsung heroes’.

“They are heroes that are out there working 24/7 to make sure that supermarkets and other shops are stocked up, to get your goods delivered and to make sure you remain safe in your home.

“Thanks to each and every one of them, for all that they have done, and continue to do,” said Cllr King.

He applauded the people of Harborough as they united to tackle the coronavirus crisis as it hit the region last March.

“I’m sure that none of us can forget the community response here when the first national lockdown was announced on March 23.

“Within hours, a plethora of voluntary support hubs and groups had been set up via social media, with dozens of volunteers ready, willing and able, to support their local communities.

“They set out to help the vulnerable who had to shield, those who had to self-isolate.

“They showed the great ‘British spirit’ - but this time it was turbocharged.

“It’s very much the case that many of these groups and volunteers are still actively supporting individuals who need help within our communities,” said Cllr King.

“And Harborough District Council, along with other partners including the NHS, continue to do all it can to help them for as long as it’s needed.

“So news last week that the number of adults across the Harborough district who’ve had their first Covid shot was over 45 per cent is fantastic.

“It’s testament to all the hard work of our local healthcare teams and volunteers.

“I urge everyone that when you get invited to have your vaccine, do not hesitate,” insisted Cllr King.

“It’s our duty, all of ours, that if we are medically able, to get vaccinated.

“Humans are social beings.

“We need social contact with other humans.

“I’m determined that we must do everything possible to ensure that we can get back to ‘normal’ socialisation as soon as it’s safe and practical to do so.

“As hard as it has been, we need to keep going now, to see this through.

“So that over the coming weeks we can emerge via the routemap from the pandemic strictures to recommence our lives, rebuild our local economy and rebuild our precious communities.”