'We salute you' - our message of thanks to the Health Heroes working in the face of the coronavirus pandemic

In her address to the nation - and the Commonwealth - on Sunday, April 5, the Queen began by thanking everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, “who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all”.
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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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You 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.

Thank you to our health heroes.Thank you to our health heroes.
Thank you to our health heroes.

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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In 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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The 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.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.