Covid 19, A lorry drivers view.

In the ten years I’ve been driving lorries up and down the UK with my cargo of food I’ve never really felt important. I turn up for work, move food about, get paid then go home. Then, in March 2020 something happened, News of a new deadly virus infecting the world and soon to be in Britain. Within days people had cleared the shops in mass panic buying sprees buying whatever they could even if they didn’t need it leaving those more vulnerable without the supply’s they truly needed. These were the early days when we saw the worst in people’s behaviour. I didn’t think too much of it as I was kept very busy trying to keep up with demand although I must confess I ended up buying my own food out of petrol stations as by the time I had finished work the shops had been totally emptied. Then followed the shutdown. Millions of people told to stay at home and do not go out except for essential supplies. The roads emptied, plains stopped flying, cities fell silent while the air became cleaner and less polluted. All but a few listened and acted on the government’s advice. So it pains me when I see people recklessly slagging us of on how badly we’ve coped with this covid-19 quoting pointless numbers and death rates which in reality mean the square route of nothing. If every country had the same size population on the same amount of land in the same type of houses and we all lived in the same climate and the infection hit all the country’s across the world in the same week then yes those figures would mean something. But we don’t, so the numbers don’t mean much. Yet go on social media and you will see people posting articles on how terrible we are, how doomed we all are and how they see nothing but death and isolation for years to come dew to are terrible government. The end is nigh.

Would you like to know what I see? I see a ninety nine year old man called Captain Tom Moore walking one hundred laps of his garden to raising millions of pounds for are NHS. I see a government introducing a furlough scheme to protect are jobs while also allowing us to financially survive not being in work. Then I see those people on the furlough scheme going out to deliver food for the vulnerable, pick crops on farms who’s seasonal workforce can no longer travel or making scrubs and visors for the NHS while safe in their homes or volunteer as support workers for the vulnerable. I see social distanced street party’s and people getting to know their next door neighbour and I see people checking to see if those next to us are ok. I see minimum wage cleaners who are appreciated and more important to us then a millionaire hedge fund manager. I see people standing outside their houses and clapping for are care workers who have done a fantastic job. I see people standing on bridges waving at lorries as we travel up the motorways. I see rainbows showing support to are wonderful NHS. I see a population changing in the manor we travel or shop and adopting new technology while having a conversation with someone’s left eye or dining room ceiling. I see a weatherman playing out the news theme brilliantly with his drums. I see people climbing Mount Everest on the stairs or running marathons in the gardens to support charity’s. I see music stars live shows streamed from home. I’ve seen some funny haircuts walking down the street. I see shelve stackers and shop assistance keeping the shelves full and the public safe while shopping. I see police officers keeping us safe in these uncertain times while upholding the new laws of lockdown with respect and professionalism while being assaulted or spat on by the few who misbehave. I see food companies and restraints quickly change their business to deliver or prepare food for people’s homes or food banks. I see thousands of parents home schooling their children while the schools are closed, I guess we’ll find out how that went in around five years’ time. I see the banks helping those who are in finical hardships due to the lockdown. I see adults learning new skills, new hobbies and achieving new qualifications from online courses. I see production companies changing to make personal protective equipment for are hospital and nursing staff. I see talented engineers from the world of aviation to hoovers coming together and designing new more advance ventilators. I see little people making a big difference. I see an army of key workers tirelessly working long hours serving the length and breadth of Britain without hesitation or complaint doing the jobs that need to be done. I see braveness, dedication and the can do attitude within the British workforce. I see the greatness that has been achieved in the shadow of this terrible virus, And I now see why this is Great Britain. I see a nation of great people from all walks of life, and I see for the first time in over ten years, I can and should be proud to be a part of it.

Mark Pritchard. 06/06/2020.