Just over 12 months ago, no one outside the scientific arena had heard of covid-19. Yet one year on and this virus has destroyed lives, families, jobs and communities. Many of our loved ones have been taken away from us. So many have lost their jobs and the nation is in the greatest financial debt crisis since World War 2.

But just as before, when the country has faced such a blight, the people have come together. No, we won’t agree on every measure that has been taken and hindsight is a wonderful virtue, but when we have needed volunteers those volunteers have come forward in ever increasing numbers from all parts of society. From retired medics bringing their skills back to the front line, to retired bank managers helping to run car parks at vaccination centres or clerical assistants retraining to be vaccinators. All this effort has enabled nearly half the adult population of the UK to be protected from covid.

So many people have played their part in protecting the NHS.  Those who have worked from home when they would never have thought it possible to do so. Mums, Dads and Grandparents who suddenly overnight became home tutors, and, of course, those millions of front-line workers who day in and day out kept the country going.

As we hopefully come out of these life changing experiences - experiences that we all hope we will never go through again, let us pause for a moment and think of those we have lost over the last twelve months.