'We salute you' - our message of thanks to the Health Heroes working in the face of the coronavirus pandemic
and live on Freeview channel 276
The roar of doorstep applause across every street in Britain for the past two Thursday evenings at 8pm has articulated more lucidly than language that the public endorses that heart-felt praise.
That was never more true here, in our community. We know that is so because you have told us.
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Hide AdYou have spoken of your pride in the NHS; you have shared your thoughts and photos of those on whom we have rarely depended more; you have confessed to shedding a tear when the 93-year-old mother of the nation represented us all in her address from Windsor Castle.
So today, in this special newspaper edition and on our website, we celebrate all the local heroes in our region.
At the same time, we join forces with our sister titles across the UK in amplifying the message: #HealthHeroes.
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Hide AdIn James Hilton's almost lyrical Goodbye Mr Chips, the author observes in his opening sentence that the “hours seem to pass like lazy cattle moving across a landscape”.
For those of us following the instruction from Government to stay at home whenever we possibly can, that phrase has enormous resonance.
Apart from the structure administered by homeworking, meal times, and maybe a daily fix of ITV's The Chase, the days blur seamlessly into each other as the hours drift just like those indolent cows of Hilton's creation.
But not for everyone.
On the NHS front line and for shop workers, refuse collectors, carers and those that keep the nation functioning, every second has never counted more, been more demanding, piled more stress and pressure on those committed to serving us.
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Hide AdThe Queen spoke directly to these modest saviours: "I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times."
Well today we do assure you. More than that, from the very bottom of our hearts we thank you.
And as we each discharge the safest and simplest of tasks of staying at home, in the silence of our thoughts we salute you too.